'Tohoku no MIRAI (the Future of north east Japan)' and Iceland
On the 25th of September, I had a chance to attend to the ICEFISH, the Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition. I was surprised to see so many prominent guests such as the President Mr. Grimsson and Mr. Johannsson, Minister of Fisheries. Numbers of companies and organizations, mainly from Europe, participated at the ICEFISH. Among those, we could proudly find a booth representing Japan. There were representatives from Kesen-numa (city of Miyagi prefecture located in Tohoku) ;Mr. Kidoura, CEO of KIDOURA SHIPYARD CO., LTD, Mr. Ishikawa, Managing Director of ISHIKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD, and Mr. Onodera, CEO of ONODERA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
Kesen-numa is a famous fishery harbor in Japan, but it was severely damaged by the Tsunami after the Great East Japan earthquake in March 2011. The city and the harbor is now on the way to re-vitalize themselves. They are not aiming at a simple reconstruction. They want to create something more future oriented than before. And Mr. Kidoura decided to build the shipyard constructing the ship designed in Iceland! This project is named ‘MIRAI (meaning future in Japanese) Shipyard’.
I learned that behind this story, there exists a human-bond between Kesen-numa and Iceland, through an Icelandic and Japanese couple (Egill and Yoko Thordarson). They visited Kesen-numa as volunteers right after the Great East Japan earthquake. Communications started and evolved to the idea of building a new shipyard to construct an Icelandic designed ship. The Future of Tohoku with Icelandic design.
Both Japan and Iceland face the enormous power of nature. It is not possible to concur the power of nature. We simply have to learn how to get along with the power and how to make best use out of it. -I believe there are no nations that know this better. Now, the future of North-East Japan is designed and built with Iceland, hand in hand. The ICEFISH provided a good opportunity to demonstrate the ‘MIRAI Shipyard’ as an example of Japan’s recovery with a concrete project. I am very proud that I could introduce this nice project to President Grimsson and Minister Johannsson.
A small anecdote; Mr. Thordarson told me that Icelanders and the people in TOHOKU resemble in characters, they are both quiet and do not speak a lot. But once they open their mouth, they give short and precise answers. He mentioned, his wife is not from Tohoku but from Kyoto and speaks a lot, so he feels more comfortable with Tohoku people.
I feel something similar. People in Iceland do not offer a lot, but when it is needed, you will get the most friendly service well.
I look forward to see the progress of the MIRAI Project in Tohoku. The first ship in the ‘MIRAI Shipyard’is expected to be set out to sea in 2016.
