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)