Renaming, resuming, and so on

So it's been months since I was last here. A lot's happened since then, for Japan and for me.

You've probably noticed I renamed this blog. I feel it's appropriate because I want to focus on things that are alive, and on things that ought to be remembered. For the longest time I wasn't able to do anything here because every time I looked at photos or a map, I would dissolve into tears. I'm continuing the tagging project, but first and foremost as a means of bringing northeastern Japan's heritage to the English-speaking world.

As for my education, I graduated college and got my M.A.; I'm working on my Ph.D. now. I've got things in mind for this blog, and for what I want to present to the internet, but they're still in development.

Thanks for reading, folks. Stay tuned.

In conclusion, here is a video of the Daikoku dance (Daikoku-mai) from Akita Prefecture. Enjoy:

Dainenji, the Date funerary temple

According to this post on the "Oshu Katakura-gumi" blog, the Date family's funerary temple of Dainenji has sustained immense damage. They included some pictures from Dainenji. It almost looks like the Roman ruins I've seen in the past. The Date family, for those unaware of the region's history, was the ruling family of the feudal domain of Sendai, which encompassed all of modern Miyagi Prefecture and parts of adjoining prefectures as well. The same blog posted a screencap of what looks like an open letter from Date Yasumune, current head of the family. Part of it is cut off, but this is my translation of the rest of it.

"....as well as visiting [shrines], from now I believe we must restore the historical heritage [sites], as well as protect them. But in the midst of such great devastation, I have no choice but to ask all of you for your help. Please take in and accept this sentiment, and provide [me/us] with the reinforcing presence of your strength. Please, I humbly beseech you. Heisei 23 4/1, Yours sincerely, Sendai Date family 18th head, Date Yasumune"

I hope that Mr. Date is able to make use of his unique position to be a powerful force for good things yet to come.

Edit: Just checked Mr. Date's website, it confirms the status of Dainenji.

A request from the mayor of Minami-Soma

"Here is my sincere request to you, from all over the world, I beg you as the mayor of Minami-soma city, to help us."

NYT article

This article on the continuing disaster in Fukushima Prefecture is heartbreaking and worth a read. I encourage you to look around, at the NYT, at English-language papers from Japan, and other countries, to get a balanced look at this issue. This story, and this disaster, are far from over.

Can anyone ID this?

This is a shrine in Yamamoto, just south of Watari, in Miyagi Prefecture. Can anyone out there ID this shrine? As you can see, it's looking intact.

Regional Culture- Nanazumai dance from Iwaizumi, Iwate Prefecture

Just to give you an idea of a local folk tradition: this is the Nakano Nanazumai dance, from Iwaizumi, in Iwate Prefecture.

Asahi.com article: "Is a unique fishing culture lost forever?"

Just wanted to pass along a link to an Asahi Shinbun article:

"The locals' familiar scenery simply vanished in an instant, completely different to the gradual changes that would have happened under normal circumstances."

"Aa, Matsushima!" A note on Zuiganji

Zuiganji is arguably one of the most important temples of the area around Sendai. Located in the city of Matsushima, it dates back centuries and among other history, has a long connection to the Date family, who once ruled that region. In the wake of the disaster, I assumed Matsushima (and Zuiganji) were devastated like so many other places along that coast, but it seems that while they've had some damage, it has fared much better than other areas. A friend sent me a twitpic link with photos taken from within one of Zuiganji's buildings, where evacuees were sheltering. The link appears below. For my part, I emailed Zuiganji yesterday, and have just received a reply, they say they had less damage than other places, but that they're "aiming at the revival," and to keep watching them.

As the haiku Matsuo Basho once said, "ah, Matsushima!"

References/Links
*Twitter pictures from within Zuigani in the past 10 days. Was used as shelter for evacuees.
*Zuiganji homepage
*Asahi Shinbun news on Zuiganji damage (in Japanese)

A Few Words of Introduction

The tsunami and earthquake of 11 March 2011 was perhaps one of the worst disasters which Japan has ever faced. The human and material cost, particularly to the Pacific Coast of northeastern Japan, was and remains staggering. One of the other casualties of this disaster is some of the physical heritage of that region. Temples, shrines, memorial stones, statues, old estates, gardens, the contents of libraries, and so much else, were not exempt. As a graduate student in history, specializing in northeastern Japan, I was therefore moved to put my knowledge of the region to good use, in gathering information about the status of that physical heritage and making it publicly available. The purpose of this project, therefore, is as follows.

1. To tag such locations in the affected area, and gather whatever information possible about their status. Are they intact? Damaged? Obliterated?
2. To gather information about these locations in the name of preserving their memory. Some of them, arguably, will not be rebuilt, so in the name of preserving at least their memory, I believe an organized collection of information (links to pre-tsunami images, pertinent historical data, etcetera) is necessary.
3. To act as an international clearinghouse for, and to increase awareness of, the unique regional history and culture of Japan, especially northeastern Japan.

If you are able, please make a donation for the sake of helping those people who remain affected by this tragedy. I recommend donating to the Japan Red Cross, but there are plenty of other organizations out there who are also at the fore of helping those who have survived. As for this project, if you have any information on the sites I have tagged, can offer help with the readings (yomikata) of names, or have new sites or things you would like me to tag, please let me know and I will add them, and give you full credit. After all, I am just one man, and the content you see on the map below is just a start. もちろん、日本語のＥメールも大丈夫。

Douzo yoroshiku tanomimasu.

Project Remembrance- Map

View Project Remembrance in a larger map

n.b.: The map, as it displays here, only includes the first page worth of tags, if you open the map in a larger view you'll be able to see the second page and beyond.