Progress to Date
Housing Redevelopment
Immediately following the earthquake and tsunami, some 470,000 people were evacuated, and over 320,000 people have been displaced on a longer-term basis. Responding to the needs of these people was a task of critical importance in the period following the disaster, and temporary housing was made available to all of those left displaced.
Following detailed research and planning, efforts to construct more disaster-resilient communities are now in progress, with construction now underway on a number of projects. This includes the collective relocation of communities away from disaster-hit areas along the coastline to higher land, which is taking place in a total of 224 districts.
One example of this is the village of Noda in Iwate Prefecture, where consultation and preparation was conducted during 2011. Following a period of research and planning during late 2011 and into 2012, proposals were accepted by the community and relevant authorities and construction began. Preparation of the land and construction of basic community infrastructure is due to be completed in late 2014, when the final phase, construction and development of individual houses, will then take place.
Readjustment projects are also underway in 59 districts, including leveling of land for residential areas, with the unprecedented scale of devastation resulting in projects of enormous scope. Japan is committed to incorporating advanced technologies and new methodologies into such reconstruction initiatives, to ensure that communities are sustainable and energy-efficient.
To facilitate the restructuring and planning required for collective relocation and land readjustment projects, a number of special measures have been put in place to simplify the process, including having multiple permits and authorizations being processed by a single authority. The Reconstruction Agency will continue to provide financial support as well as professional assistance.
