This document summarizes support efforts for the fishing village of Oura, Japan after it was devastated by the 2011 Tsunami. It provides details on the damage to Oura, including the loss of 19 lives, destruction of all homes, and unusable fishing infrastructure. Photos show the destruction and early rebuilding efforts. The document outlines fundraising efforts to purchase a new boat winch and winch house for the village's fishing association, as fishing is the only local industry but boats cannot currently be repaired. It provides statistics on Oura's population, households, and boats before and after the disaster and calls for further donations to aid in Oura's recovery.

1. Support
Oura
Project
Japan Earthquake/Tsunami
March 11, 2011

2. Why Oura?
My husband’s father was born & raised with 10 siblings in Oura.
We lost an aunt and cousin to the tsunami and all our remaining
relatives in Oura have been displaced. Small villages like Oura have
been largely overlooked in the disaster, which is why we are trying
to help this fishing village get back on their feet again.
This shot was
taken in 1976 on
one of the summer
vacations spent in
Oura.

3. What happened to the
boat project?
• We originally planned to donate a boat to Oura but
after several months of requesting quotes we discovered
the cost had DOUBLED to 20 million yen and there was a
TWO YEAR waiting list. So we decided to focus on
desperately needed fishing equipment.

4. Geographical Data
The quake struck off the east coast of Sendai, about 25kms from Oura.

5. Where is Oura
Ishinomaki
Oura is located north of Ishinomaki and south of Kesenuma, two of the
larger towns featured in media reports.

6. Quick Statistics
• Oura is 7kms from Onagawa Town, Miyagi Pref.
• Population 238 prior to March 11
• 19 lives lost to tsunami
• All homes destroyed or damaged
• Ground dropped 70cm due to earthquake
• Port area now floods at high tide
• Fishing is the ONLY industry in Oura

7. Fishing Statistics
250 238
200 190
45 families want to continue
150 to live and work in Oura but
they need new boats and
100 equipment.
60
50
50 45
30
0
Population Households engaged in Fishing Number of boats
Pre Quake Post Quake
90% of Oura’s men & women work in the fishing industry

8. Tsunami Devastation to
Oura Port
Port equipment unusable and floating nets for scallops/oysters all destroyed.

9. Port Floods at high tide
Cranes used to lift nets filled with oysters/scallops out of the boats are
unusable because of the 70 cm drop in ground level.

10. Height of Tsunami visible
1st wave
General height
This warehouse was completely submerged but survived because
it was not hit by the debris mass that rushed back out to sea.

11. All homes destroyed or
damaged beyond repair
Houses in this area were ripped from their foundations by a tsunami of
debris rushing back out to sea following the quake.

12. Primary School used as
Evacuation Center
As of 2012, all evacuees have left the primary school, which was closed
several years earlier due to a lack of students. Oura’s children go to
school in Onagawa or Ishinomaki.

13. Temporary Housing under
construction in May 2011
A lottery system was used to choose who would live in the temporary
housing built next to the primary school on the hill.

14. 22 Families now live in
Temporary Housing
50 people live in Oura’s temporary housing including some families from
surrounding villages. Families with young children are all in Onagawa.

15. Debris Status May 2011
Two mths after the disaster and Oura looked just like it did on March
11. Very different from surrounding towns like Ishinomaki and
Onagawa where rebuilding efforts were very visible.

16. Debris Status August 2011
Almost nothing had changed 5mths later. Government aid and promises
were not materializing.

17. Restoration Efforts
Feb. 2012 – All debris cleared. Finally a point to begin reconstruction.

18. Scallops & Oysters
Farming of scallops & oysters has begun. Harvest due 2013. Fishermen
have no income during this 2yr period.

19. Cement blocks used to
raise height of cranes
When the quake struck, the ground dropped 70cms

20. Sandbags used to stop
sea entering this area
Helps prevent moored boats from floating past dock into town!

21. Rebuilding Homes 35m
above sea level
This hill will be cut away to make way for Oura’s new residential area.
Preparation of construction area will begin in Spring 2011 and finish end of 2013.
Construction of homes to begin sometime in 2014.

22. Oura Fishing Association
Officials
L to R: Mr. Kato (Treasurer), Mr. Abe (Chairman), Juliane Suzuki (Support Oura Project
Founder) Mr. Komatsu (Oura Emergency Leader)

23. No Government Assistance
for Oura Fishing Association
• Oura fishing association is a private organization
and NOT entitled to government assistance.
• Oura fishermen have taken out personal loans to
repair some boats and equipment but without any
income they are struggling.
• A boat winch & winch house is needed a.s.a.p

24. Donating a New Winch
To Oura
Boat winch used to raise boats out of the water for maintenance and repairs

25. Winch house building
must be replaced
The winch house was totally submerged by the tsunami, destroying
the winch and electrical circuit board. Floor height must be raised
1metre.

26. Old winch destroyed by
tsunami
Boats have not been out of the water for maintenance/repairs since the
disaster.

27. Several boats can be
winched out here.
A new winch and winch house will cost nearly 10 million yen.

28. Fundraising Status
We have raised over 7.5 million yen.
• We have enough to buy the winch, BUT the winch
needs to be covered by a winch house.
• We need another 2.5 million yen to reach our goal.

29. How to Donate
• Via Paypal @
• https://sites.google.com/site/ourajapan/
• See Maria Naito at Convention
• Bank Transfer (Japan only)

30. Oura Wristbands
Packs of 10 wristbands (2,000 yen/pack) available at Convention

31. Follow us on Facebook
• Follow our progress on Facebook @
“Support Oura Project”
• Share the page with your friends & family.

32. がんばる尾浦
がんばる日本
Thank you
for supporting
Oura