{"id":11283,"date":"2016-03-09T10:25:04","date_gmt":"2016-03-09T10:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.insidejapantours.com\/?p=11283"},"modified":"2016-03-09T12:24:49","modified_gmt":"2016-03-09T12:24:49","slug":"ganbaro-tohoku-recovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/","title":{"rendered":"Ganbaro Tohoku: Recovering from the earthquake"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p><strong>This month at Inside Japan Tours it\u2019s all about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-regions\/tohoku\/\">Tohoku<\/a>, the northern region devastated by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown of 2011. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/01\/the-triple-disaster-looking-back-on-the-great-east-japan-earthquake\/\">Last week<\/a> we took a look back at the chilling events of the \u2018triple disaster\u2019 and what it meant for the affected areas; this week we\u2019ll be taking stock of the aftermath and recovery.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-4.jpg\" alt=\"Quote 4\" width=\"616\" height=\"216\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-4.jpg 616w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-4-300x105.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-4-564x198.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-4-390x137.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-4-510x179.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 616px) 100vw, 616px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/29\/6-months-on-part-3-kadonowaki-elementary-school\/\">Read more from Alastair here.<\/a><\/p>\n<h1>Assessing the damage<\/h1>\n<p>In the wake of the Tohoku Earthquake, once the aftershocks had died down and the waters receded, where did the residents of northern Japan find themselves?<\/p>\n<p>In terms of human cost, the National Police Agency of Japan confirmed 15,893 deaths, 2,572 missing, and 6,152 injured in the disaster. Over 90% of casualties are thought to have been as a direct result of the tsunami, whereas the effects of the nuclear disaster remain to be seen. As devastating as these figures are, it could have been worse: the tsunami occurred during the school day, so most of the region\u2019s children were in school buildings built on high ground. Nevertheless, 378 children died, 158 are still missing, and 1,580 are thought to have lost one or both of their parents.<\/p>\n<p>Those lucky enough to survive the disaster were faced with such utter devastation that it must have been difficult to imagine a recovery at all. One of the immediate problems was burial services for the dead: Japanese funeral ceremonies are usually elaborate affairs, but with over 18,000 bodies to bury most had to make do with mass graves.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11284 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-1.jpg\" alt=\"Alastair, visiting Tohoku 6 months on\" width=\"620\" height=\"166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-1.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-1-300x80.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-1-564x151.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-1-390x104.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-1-510x137.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/29\/6-months-on-part-3-kadonowaki-elementary-school\/\">Read more from Alastair here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Over 340,000 people, meanwhile, suddenly found themselves homeless \u2013 their houses either reduced to matchsticks by the power of the sea, or located within the Fukushima nuclear exclusion zone. In the ensuing weeks and months, these people would face shortages of food, water, fuel and medicine, and live in overcrowded communal shelters. What does a disaster-stricken country do with a displaced population roughly the size of Cardiff?<\/p>\n<p>By the end of July 2011, it is estimated that 90,000 people in Tohoku were still homeless &#8211; living in hotels, inns, public shelters and hastily erected short-term housing. Five years on, the numbers living in temporary accommodation are still in the tens of thousands.<\/p>\n<p>Those whose homes and businesses weren\u2019t swept away were faced with the seemingly endless task of clearing away the sludge, or <em>hedoro<\/em>, that the tsunami deposited all over everything in its path \u2013 not to mention the 25 million tons of rubble and 230,000 ruined vehicles it left behind. And once this was complete, there would be further problems to surmount. How would the businesses of Ishinomaki cope, for instance, with the fact that their town had sunk over a metre in places, so that they now find themselves submerged twice a day by the tide?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11287\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"Alastair Donnelly, 6 months on\" width=\"613\" height=\"160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-2-1.jpg 613w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-2-1-300x78.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-2-1-564x147.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-2-1-390x102.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-2-1-510x133.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 613px) 100vw, 613px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2011\/10\/03\/6-months-on-part-4-kinoya-and-the-cans-of-hope\/\">Read more from Alastair here<\/a>.<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11313\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11313\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11313\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/comparison.jpg\" alt=\"Top: Ishinomaki one month after the disaster; Bottom: six months after.\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/comparison.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/comparison-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/comparison-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/comparison-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/comparison-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/comparison-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/comparison-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/comparison-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/comparison-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/comparison-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11313\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Top: Ishinomaki one month after the disaster; Bottom: six months later. (Photos: Ester De Roij).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1>The clean-up operation<\/h1>\n<p>After the dust had settled, the people of Tohoku lost no time in starting the mammoth task of clearing away the detritus left by the earthquake, helped by volunteers and aid teams from across Japan and the wider world. Some members of Inside Japan Tours\u2019 staff \u2013 and even some of our customers \u2013 pitched in to lend a hand in Ishinomaki, and described scenes even more shocking than the images we had seen on television.<\/p>\n<p>Former IJT tour leader, Tom Orsman, described his experience helping to shovel sludge in Ishinomaki:<\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11286\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-3.jpg\" alt=\"Tom Orsman, 4 months on\" width=\"611\" height=\"209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-3.jpg 611w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-3-300x103.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-3-564x193.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-3-390x133.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-3-510x174.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 611px) 100vw, 611px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11304\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11304\" style=\"width: 564px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-rss-image wp-image-11304\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-564x423.jpg\" alt=\"Tom and his team shovel sludge in Ishinomaki, 3 months on\" width=\"564\" height=\"423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11304\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tom and his team shovel sludge in Ishinomaki, 3 months on<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2011\/06\/13\/sludge-shoveling-in-ishinomaki\/\">Read more from Tom here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It took Tom and his team of volunteers five full days to clear the <em>hedoro <\/em>from beneath the floor of two homes and from the garden of another \u2013 and professionals would need to come and finish the job. Other volunteers were tasked with preparing thousands of meals a day for refugees, while others still were needed to process and distribute supplies. With 36,000 houses to clear in Ishinomaki alone and 100,000 in the disaster zone as a whole, it was clear that this was only just the beginning.<\/p>\n<p>Product Manager Ruth Hubbard, meanwhile, visited Ishinomaki and Onagawa in November 2012 to volunteer for the tsunami relief charity <a href=\"http:\/\/itsnotjustmud.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">It\u2019s Not Just Mud<\/a>. Even a year and eight months after the event there was still clearly plenty to be done \u2013 she reported seeing vast piles of debris, hundreds of diggers and lorries still clearing the wreckage, and whole communities living in paper-thin, prefab houses built on school basketball courts.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11289\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-5.jpg\" alt=\"Ruth, 20 months on\" width=\"611\" height=\"141\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-5.jpg 611w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-5-300x69.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-5-564x130.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-5-390x90.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-5-510x118.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 611px) 100vw, 611px\" \/><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-11283 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/its_not_just_mud_0360\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0360-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-11306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0360-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0360-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-11306'>\n\t\t\t\tRuth gets stuck into some DIY\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/its_not_just_mud_0361\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0361-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-11307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0361-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0361-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-11307'>\n\t\t\t\tLet loose on the circular saw\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2012\/11\/05\/volunteering-with-its-not-just-mud\/\">Read more from Ruth here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h1>Ganbaro Tohoku<\/h1>\n<p>In addition to Tom and Ruth, Inside Japan\u2019s Ester De Roij, Tyler Palma, and Co-Directors Alastair and Simon all headed out to Tohoku in the months after the disaster to help out with recovery efforts and keep in touch with our friends and business partners in the area. At home, with the help of our friends, families and customers, we raised \u00a323,500 for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.civic-force.org\/english\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Civic Force<\/a>, who provided initial emergency shelter and goods for victims, and \u00a36,000 for It&#8217;s Not Just Mud.<\/p>\n<p>What struck everybody who visited Tohoku in the months after the disaster \u2013 more even than the vast scale of the destruction \u2013 was the stoical attitude of the Japanese as they went about picking up the pieces of their lives.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11309\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-6.jpg\" alt=\"Tyler, 6 months on\" width=\"585\" height=\"133\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-6.jpg 585w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-6-300x68.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-6-564x128.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-6-390x89.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-6-510x116.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2012\/10\/21\/five-reasons-to-visit-the-north-of-japan\/\">Read more from Tyler here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>There is a famous sign painted on a wall in Ishinomaki \u2013 it reads \u201cGanbaro Ishinomaki\u201d. Loosely translated, it means \u201cLet\u2019s fight together, Ishinomaki\u201d, and it has become a symbol of the region\u2019s struggle to return to normality and build a better future for those who survived. They\u2019ve come an awful long way since the 11<sup>th<\/sup> of March, but the struggle is far from over.<\/p>\n<p><strong>This Friday is the fifth anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. We\u2019ll be publishing a fascinating (and frankly terrifying) first-hand account of the earthquake by Emma Price, one of our Bristol-based travel consultants, who was living in Sendai at the time of the disaster. Keep your eyes peeled to read her story later this week.<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you would like to lend your help to those still affected by the earthquake and tsunami, we are currently raising money for <a href=\"http:\/\/2hj.org\/english\/activity\/result\/east-japan_activity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Second Harvest Japan<\/a>, a charity that continues to provide food and support to survivors. Amongst other fundraising activities, 12 of us will be running the Bath Half Marathon this Sunday! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ammado.com\/community\/173533\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here to support us<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-11283 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-half-width'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/olympus-digital-camera-225\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RQ_Ciizens_Volunteering_0347-720x540.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RQ_Ciizens_Volunteering_0347-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RQ_Ciizens_Volunteering_0347-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RQ_Ciizens_Volunteering_0347-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RQ_Ciizens_Volunteering_0347-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RQ_Ciizens_Volunteering_0347-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RQ_Ciizens_Volunteering_0347-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RQ_Ciizens_Volunteering_0347-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RQ_Ciizens_Volunteering_0347-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RQ_Ciizens_Volunteering_0347-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RQ_Ciizens_Volunteering_0347.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11308'>\n\t\t\t\tThe clean-up operation, 6 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/group-11-tomo\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-720x540.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Group-11-Tomo.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11304'>\n\t\t\t\tTom and his team shovel sludge in Ishinomaki, 3 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/sony-dsc-156\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01935-720x480.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01935-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01935-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01935-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01935-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01935-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01935-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01935-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01935-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01935-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01935.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11303'>\n\t\t\t\tWaterlogged railway lines on the tsunami coast, 6 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/its_not_just_mud_0355\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0355-720x540.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0355-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0355-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0355-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0355-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0355-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0355-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0355-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0355-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0355-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Its_Not_Just_Mud_0355.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11305'>\n\t\t\t\tRuth helps fishermen sorting oyster shells, 20 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/sony-dsc-155\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01934-720x480.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01934-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01934-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01934-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01934-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01934-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01934-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01934-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01934-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01934-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01934.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11302'>\n\t\t\t\tDetritus strewn across the landscape, 6 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/sony-dsc-154\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01933-720x480.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01933-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01933-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01933-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01933-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01933-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01933-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01933-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01933-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01933-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01933.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11301'>\n\t\t\t\tA woman walks along the rails, 6 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/sony-dsc-153\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01922-720x1080.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01922-720x1080.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01922-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01922-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01922-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01922-376x564.jpg 376w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01922-390x585.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01922.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01922-510x765.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11300'>\n\t\t\t\tDemolition, 6 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/sony-dsc-152\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01872-720x480.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01872-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01872-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01872-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01872-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01872-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01872-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01872-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01872-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01872-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01872.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11299'>\n\t\t\t\tA memorial at Kadonomaki School, 6 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/sony-dsc-151\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01869_ScreenSharpen-720x480.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01869_ScreenSharpen-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01869_ScreenSharpen-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01869_ScreenSharpen-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01869_ScreenSharpen-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01869_ScreenSharpen-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01869_ScreenSharpen-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01869_ScreenSharpen-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01869_ScreenSharpen-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01869_ScreenSharpen-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01869_ScreenSharpen.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11298'>\n\t\t\t\tVisiting ruined Kadonomaki School, 6 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/20121107-205712\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"542\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205712-720x542.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205712-720x542.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205712-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205712-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205712-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205712-564x425.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205712-900x678.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205712-390x294.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205712-780x587.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205712-510x384.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205712.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11296'>\n\t\t\t\tTemporary housing on a school playing field, 20 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/20121107-210011\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"542\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-210011-720x542.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-210011-720x542.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-210011-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-210011-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-210011-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-210011-564x425.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-210011-900x678.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-210011-390x294.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-210011-780x587.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-210011-510x384.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-210011.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11297'>\n\t\t\t\tDrawings of the missing, 20 months later\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/20121107-205446\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"542\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205446-720x542.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205446-720x542.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205446-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205446-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205446-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205446-564x425.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205446-900x678.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205446-390x294.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205446-780x587.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205446-510x384.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20121107-205446.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11295'>\n\t\t\t\tPrefabricated housing, 20 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/15-hanami-with-kondosan-2\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/15-Hanami-with-Kondosan-720x540.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/15-Hanami-with-Kondosan-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/15-Hanami-with-Kondosan-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/15-Hanami-with-Kondosan-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/15-Hanami-with-Kondosan-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/15-Hanami-with-Kondosan-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/15-Hanami-with-Kondosan-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/15-Hanami-with-Kondosan-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/15-Hanami-with-Kondosan-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/15-Hanami-with-Kondosan-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/15-Hanami-with-Kondosan.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11294'>\n\t\t\t\tEster volunteers in Ishinomaki, 1 month on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/14-kondosans-shop_toriko-2\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/14-Kondosans-shop_Toriko-720x540.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"Volunteering in Ishinomaki\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/14-Kondosans-shop_Toriko-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/14-Kondosans-shop_Toriko-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/14-Kondosans-shop_Toriko-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/14-Kondosans-shop_Toriko-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/14-Kondosans-shop_Toriko-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/14-Kondosans-shop_Toriko-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/14-Kondosans-shop_Toriko-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/14-Kondosans-shop_Toriko-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/14-Kondosans-shop_Toriko-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/14-Kondosans-shop_Toriko.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11293'>\n\t\t\t\tEster and the volunteers, 1 month on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/7-1-month-2\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/7-1-Month-720x540.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/7-1-Month-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/7-1-Month-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/7-1-Month-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/7-1-Month-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/7-1-Month-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/7-1-Month-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/7-1-Month-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/7-1-Month-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/7-1-Month-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/7-1-Month.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11292'>\n\t\t\t\tThe wreckage remains, 6 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/2-14-months-2\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2-14-Months-720x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2-14-Months-720x240.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2-14-Months-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2-14-Months-768x256.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2-14-Months-1024x341.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2-14-Months-564x188.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2-14-Months-900x300.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2-14-Months-390x130.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2-14-Months-780x260.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2-14-Months-510x170.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2-14-Months.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11291'>\n\t\t\t\tIshinomaki 6 months on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/09\/ganbaro-tohoku-recovery\/1-1month-2\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/1-1Month-720x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-half-width size-half-width\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-11290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/1-1Month-720x240.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/1-1Month-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/1-1Month-768x256.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/1-1Month-1024x341.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/1-1Month-564x188.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/1-1Month-900x300.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/1-1Month-390x130.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/1-1Month-780x260.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/1-1Month-510x170.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/1-1Month.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-11290'>\n\t\t\t\tIshinomaki, 1 month on\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11311\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-8.jpg\" alt=\"Uday Kantikar, summer 2011\" width=\"598\" height=\"162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-8.jpg 598w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-8-300x81.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-8-564x153.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-8-390x106.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Quote-8-510x138.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 598px) 100vw, 598px\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2011\/12\/08\/festival-fun\/\">Read more from the Kantikar family here.<\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11283\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! This month at Inside Japan Tours it\u2019s all about Tohoku, the northern region devastated by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown of 2011. Last week we took a look back at the chilling events of the \u2018triple disaster\u2019 and what it meant for the affected areas; this [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2356],"tags":[1475,1667,2191,2258,2289],"class_list":["post-11283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-japanese-miscellaneous-blog-posts","tag-earthquake","tag-ishinomaki","tag-tohoku","tag-tsunami","tag-volunteering"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11283"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11319,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11283\/revisions\/11319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}