Kesennuma is a city that suffered devastating damage by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Receiving support from all over country, including government, academic, and the private sectors, the citizens are all working towards recovery. It will not be an easy task for Kesennuma to become again one of the premier fishing port cities in the country, given the tough economic conditions the fishing industry finds itself in. However, everyone in the city is working together on a variety of initiatives to tackle the difficult challenges not only for reconstruction but also from the perspective of re-inventing the local region.

Located on the southern coast of Iwate Prefecture facing the Sanriku fishing grounds, Ofunato is a city of the fisheries that has since before times prospered with fishing for as one of its primary industries. While the coastal areas of the city were devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, thanks to support from both within Japan and around the world Ofunato City is now on its feet again and making progress to reconstruction. In future, we would like to overcome issues existing from before the disaster, aiming at a becoming an even stronger city of the fisheries.

Looking at the figures concerning recovery of the fishing industry after the Great East Japan Earthquake, it seems that steady progress has been made. However, on-site examination reveals that the securing of necessary manpower and markets remain large issues. What is important now is how these issues are addressed. This article focuses on these issues and on how recovery of the fishing industry in disaster-affected areas is entering a new phase.