15 Years On: Local “Kamaboko” Maker Helps Disaster-Hit Town

Onagawa, Miyagi Pref., March 18 (Jiji Press)–A “kamaboko” fish cake manufacturer in a town in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Miyagi has continued to lend the local community and firms a helping hand for reconstruction from a devastating earthquake and tsunami 15 years ago. Hurt to see the changes caused to the town of Onagawa by the disaster and the subsequent population outflow, Masaki Takahashi, 51, who heads Takamasa Co., boasting a 90-year history in the town, said that his company has continued offering reconstruction support because it could “not just stand by and watch.” The economic toll the tsunami inflicted on Onagawa was catastrophic, with almost all factories of local seafood-processing companies, an engine for the town’s growth, rendered unusable. Although Takamasa’s factory was located on higher ground and unscathed in the tsunami, the company had to suspend production as the quake led to the plant’s ceiling collapsing. The hardship did not stop Takahashi, however. He said Takamasa wanted to help the town right after the disaster struck. His company handed out around 70,000 slices of kamaboko that had remained at its factory to people who were affected by the disaster. After the electricity supply of the town was restored after the arrival of emergency power trucks, the company made about 200,000 slices of fried kamaboko and delivered them fresh and hot to evacuation centers in Onagawa and the nearby cities of Ishinomaki and Higashimatsushima. “(The fish cakes) made evacuees happy because they had lacked warm food at the shelters at the time,” he said. Believing that Onagawa’s reconstruction would be delayed unless Takamasa could get on its feet again, the company focused on rebuilding itself and keeping on its employees. It continued to pay full wages to its employees, totaling about 100, even while its factory was halted. In April 2011, just a month after the catastrophic disaster, Takamasa welcomed about 30 new employees as scheduled. In September the same year, the company launched operations at a new factory, also as planned since before the temblor and tsunami. The company gradually increased its number of employees to about 200. On the reason for doubling the workforce after the disaster, Takahashi said, “If each employee supports three family members, that would mean that we would safeguard the livelihoods of 600 people.” After the disaster, a trend to help areas hit by the disaster by buying their local specialties spread throughout Japan. Few companies in Onagawa benefitted from the movement, however, because its economy was shattered by the catastrophe. Takamasa, one of the handful of local firms that managed to resume operations, decided to use part of its business profits to help the town’s reconstruction. In one example, Takamasa purchased a pressure washer used for cleaning and disinfection, and donated it to a company to assist its reconstruction. In another case, during business negotiations with a department store operator on the supply of its kamaboko, Takamasa also promoted dried marine products and kelp roll dishes from a different company. In the three years or so from 2011, Takamasa supported eight firms’ reconstruction. Takahashi said the earthquake and tsunami made him “realize how precious an ordinary daily life really is.” Fifteen years after the disaster, Takamasa’s annual sales have increased from around 1.9 billion yen to about 3 billion yen. Although Onagawa’s population has halved since the disaster, Takahashi said, “We want to remain a company deeply connected to the local community.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]