Note: This website was automatically translated, so some terms or nuances may not be completely accurate.
Onagawa Town: "Toward the town where the world's most new beginnings are born."
On December 23, Onagawa Town in Miyagi Prefecture held the grand opening of its station-front commercial area, developed through public-private partnership. The nation's first tenant-based commercial facility certified under the Town Revitalization Plan, "Seapalpia Onagawa," and the "Onagawa Town Downtown Exchange Center" opened simultaneously.
A 370-meter-long, 15-meter-wide pedestrian-only road, paved with brick, runs straight from the station plaza to the seaside area. It provides a relaxing space with benches and plantings while also serving as an evacuation route in emergencies.
The "Seapalpia Onagawa" complex unfolding along both sides features 27 shops, including diverse retail stores and eateries serving local specialties, designed to appeal to both residents and tourists. Among them are distinctive shops like a Spanish tile workshop, a guitar workshop, and a craft beer restaurant, all started by entrepreneurs in Onagawa.
Onagawa Town was one of the areas severely impacted by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Tragically, 827 people—8% of the town's population—lost their lives, and approximately 70% of the homes were completely destroyed.
To mark this grand opening, Onagawa Town has adopted the slogan "Toward the town where new beginnings are born more than anywhere else in the world," reflecting its recovery journey and vision for the future. Building on its history of supporting those who constantly take on new challenges, the town aims to remain vibrant for the next 100 years. Under the banner "START! ONAGAWA," it strives to become a town that can sustainably develop even in a declining population society. Programs to encourage local entrepreneurship and migration have already begun. Moving forward, people from both inside and outside the town will collaborate to launch new projects.
Mayor Yoshiaki Suda expressed his aspirations: "The town we envisioned together—with residents, businesses, and supporters who endured difficult times—has become a reality. However, we have only just reached the entrance. We will continue working together to build this town."
From the 23rd to the 27th, the commemorative event "Onagawa Recovery Town Opening 2015: Winter" is being held over five days, featuring diverse ceremonies and stage events. On the 23rd, following the opening ceremony, children declared the area open, and Mayor Suda and others performed the ribbon-cutting. The brick path, lined with the new slogan and "START! ONAGAWA" flags, bustled with townspeople and visitors celebrating the opening.
Ms. Narumi Abe of Minatomachi Ceramica Studio, which produces and sells Spanish tiles at Sea Palpia Onagawa, expressed her enthusiasm: "We've finally made a proper start. We want to make this a town industry." Local businesses unique to the area also showed smiles, including the diving shop "High Bridge," which offers diving services in the Sanriku Sea; the fan shop for the community-based adult soccer team "Cobaltole Onagawa"; and the Cobaltole Supporterz, Inc. Park.
Yosuke Komatsu of the specific non-profit organization Asu Henokiho, which operates the "Onagawa Future Center Camass" aiming to create new systems through exchanges within and outside the town, stated, "The real work begins now. We need to stay focused."
Was this article helpful?
Share this article
