MSDA Rikuzentakata Field Trip 2025
Master of Social Development and Administration (MSDA) Course
Oct 17, 2025
OVERVIEW
From August 6 to August 8, we traveled from Tokyo by Shinkansen to Ichinoseki, then took about an hour-long bus ride to the Tsunami Memorial Museum, where we began our three-day field study. From this point, Professor Nakano started teaching us how to incorporate drawings and timelines into our notes to help record things in a clearer way. This was a new experience for us students and has proven to be extremely helpful for reviewing our notes in the future. (Shanfu)
Day 1
Iwate Tsunami Memorial and Rikuzentakata City Museum
My university thesis is about the empathic communication strategies of museums from the perspective of new media. So, during the visit, I paid special attention to how the museum uses space, exhibits, and new media technology to create an emotional connection with visitors. The Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum successfully achieved empathic communication through new media, "storytelling" approach, and thoughtful space design. This visit made me realize that museums are not just places to display history and culture, but platforms for emotional exchange and deep connections with visitors. (Xinwei)
Temporary Housing Experience Hall
The temporary housing visit revealed the dual function of emergency shelter: as an immediate physical necessity and as a point for establishing social bonds that helped victims return to normal life. This shows that recovery extends beyond infrastructure to include psychosocial stability and community cohesion. (Mingxuan)
Day 2
Nagahora Genkimura
The way neighbors supported each other, together with the help of volunteers and outside organizations, demonstrated the strength of social connections in times of crisis. Human security also means restoring people’s livelihoods, keeping education going, and caring for the emotional well-being of survivors. Listening to survivors’ stories and visiting the memorials to those who died made me see how shared memory can turn trauma into wisdom and strengthen community ties. (Jubo)
Yoshida House
Me and my classmates were impressed by the Yoshida House carpenter's presentation on how traditional knowledge and craftsmanship can help in resilient reconstruction after disasters. The town's rebuilding process requires careful planning prioritizing safety first. It became clear to me that constructing a safer city involves considering disaster prevention, sustainability, and cultural preservation. (Joni)
At the Yoshida House, the carpenter’s talk also introduced the contribution of traditional craftsmanship to reconstruction, revealing how local knowledge was used for rebuilding Rikuzentakata. Insights from the carpenter’s talk highlighted the relevance of local knowledge and traditional skills in reconstruction. This illustrated how community participation and endogenous resources enhance sustainability in recovery processes. (Anita)
At the Yoshida House, the carpenter’s talk also introduced the contribution of traditional craftsmanship to reconstruction, revealing how local knowledge was used for rebuilding Rikuzentakata. Insights from the carpenter’s talk highlighted the relevance of local knowledge and traditional skills in reconstruction. This illustrated how community participation and endogenous resources enhance sustainability in recovery processes. (Anita)
Tanabata Star Festival
At the Yoshida House, a master carpenter shared his experience in preserving traditional crafts. In the evening, we joined the Tanabata Festival, where each village presented a festive float with music. We familiarized ourselves with the cultural life of the region. Taking part in the Tanabata Festival, meeting traditional craftsmen, and tasting local cuisine showed how important it is to preserve cultural heritage even after devastating events. (Yana)
Day 3
Rikkyo Satellite
My field trip to Rikuzentakata was a powerful lesson in both human resilience and the complexities of disaster recovery. We learned that recovery isn't just about infrastructure. It's about restoring a sense of community, identity, and hope. The most striking aspect of the trip was witnessing the contrast between the remnants of the past and the signs of a present. We saw areas that had been completely destroyed, and now rebuilt with new housing and public facilities. (Vlad)
The town, though still in the process of recovery, displayed remarkable progress and resilience. This trip also made me reflect on the broader issues of disaster recovery and urban planning. It became clear that the recovery process is not just about rebuilding infrastructure, but about restoring the spirit and livelihood of the people. The combination of government efforts and community-driven initiatives showed me how recovery from a natural disaster requires both practical solutions and emotional efforts. (Zhu)
The town, though still in the process of recovery, displayed remarkable progress and resilience. This trip also made me reflect on the broader issues of disaster recovery and urban planning. It became clear that the recovery process is not just about rebuilding infrastructure, but about restoring the spirit and livelihood of the people. The combination of government efforts and community-driven initiatives showed me how recovery from a natural disaster requires both practical solutions and emotional efforts. (Zhu)
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