#notopeninsula Moving Forward Towards Recovery | Focus #98

Believing in the power of photography, cizucu aims to prevent the disaster from being forgotten and to encourage people to visit Noto again by continuously sharing the journey towards recovery. This time, we introduce an interview with Jang Kumi, who continues to share the charm of Noto, along with her works depicting Noto, and discuss efforts towards recovery.

The charity photo exhibition introduced in '#notopeninsula Two Months After the Noto Earthquake, Post-Earthquake Trajectory | Focus #45' was held in Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture.

In this issue, we conducted a valuable online interview with Kumi, who has a deep connection with #notopeninsula. We delved into her changing mindset over time, the current state of the Noto region, and her outlook for the future.

'Why did this have to happen right at the start of the new year?' During the New Year celebrations, everything changed with the sudden earthquake and tsunami warning. The city suffered significant damage, and many people were forced to live in shelters.

The chaotic fear during the earthquake and the unstable days that followed cast a deep shadow on each survivor's heart. Losing homes and livelihoods, the uncertainty of an unknown future weighed heavily on their minds. 'In the moment when everything changed in an instant, we had to seriously consider what to do and how to move forward,' Kumi recalled.

'Pointing the camera at painful scenes during tough times is hard,' Kumi says. However, she picked up her camera to somehow preserve the record. Her motivation is the belief that 'conveying this situation to future generations is one action we can take.' The piles of rubble, collapsed houses, and changing natural landscapes—photographs can be a powerful tool to convey realities that words cannot.

'As the debris is cleared, the former landscapes will disappear, leaving nothing as if nothing ever happened. At that time, something new will begin to be built, but if we don't preserve the last appearance of this place that we are witnessing now in memory and record, I can't be satisfied,' she says. What exists here now will eventually all disappear. She hopes for a quick recovery and a return to peaceful living, but she does not want to forget the memories of the disaster.

While basic infrastructure recovery is progressing, many residents of the Noto Peninsula still live in harsh conditions in temporary housing. 'Indeed, electricity has been restored, and water has started flowing from the taps, but that alone doesn't mean we've returned to our previous lives,' residents say. Even with the restoration of lifelines, many issues remain to be resolved, such as housing, jobs, and the quality of daily life.

As a more serious issue, in small settlements, water restoration is delayed, and some residents have to transport water from places nearly 10 km away. 'There are towns where water hasn't reached, and to secure water for daily use, long distances must be traveled,' highlighting the harsh reality on the ground. Although the restoration of lifelines may appear to be progressing on the surface through media reports, the reality is that life in the disaster-stricken areas is still far from normal.

While gradually regaining daily life, there is still anxiety about the future. 'We lost our homes and jobs, yet we continue to smile. However, while gradually regaining daily life, there is still anxiety about the future. We strive to be strong, but outside support is indispensable. Please watch over our efforts as we make small progress. And please do not forget us. The daily lives of people in the disaster areas are still far from normal,' Kumi appeals.

Volunteer activities are not limited to visiting the site directly. It is possible to support disaster areas in various ways, such as donations, material support, and information dissemination. Not only for people within Ishikawa Prefecture, but also for many people outside the prefecture, there are opportunities to lend a hand to these challenges faced by the disaster areas.

Volunteer recruitment information can be checked on the Ishikawa Prefecture website. Although activity times may be limited, NPOs and local organizations may provide independent support, such as accommodation. Reviewing this information and considering how you can help can be a big step toward supporting the disaster areas.

We at cizucu want to borrow your creative power. This is an initiative to shine a light on the beautiful culture and nature of the Noto Peninsula and the challenges it faces. Please share photos taken in the Noto Peninsula with the hashtag #notopeninsula and messages. Let's aim for the recovery of the Noto Peninsula together with your small feelings and support.

Photographers from the Noto region, including Kumi, continue to capture moments despite facing severe realities. One such event is a photo exhibition scheduled for late March in Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture.

Focusing on the Shiramaru district in Noto Town, which suffered extremely severe damage from tsunamis and fires and has not yet received sufficient support, the 'Photo Exhibition' calls for continued attention to the disaster areas. The photos capturing the beautiful landscapes of Shiramaru district, barely spared from the tsunami and fire damage, convey the precious scenery that is being lost.

Finally, we express our gratitude to Jang Kumi for her cooperation in the interview and sincerely wish for the safety and swift recovery of the disaster victims.

cover image by Jang Kumi