What Decisions Did the Administration Make Immediately After the Earthquake? Minamisanriku 311 Memorial's New Special Exhibition "The Administration Kept Moving Amidst Loss and Chaos" Starts April 1
Minamisanriku 311 Memorial will launch two new special exhibitions from April 1, 2026, focusing on administrative decisions during the disaster and the human bonds that supported recovery.
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- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 21:00
Minamisanriku 311 Memorial, a disaster heritage facility in Minamisanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture, will hold new special exhibitions starting April 1, 2026.
Immediately after the earthquake, what decisions did the administration make, and how did it continue to operate? The exhibition "The Administration Kept Moving Amidst Loss and Chaos," which traces the continuous decision-making and responses during the confusion, will be held concurrently with "The Bonds of People Who Supported Minamisanriku After the Disaster," an exhibition focusing on the human connections that supported the recovery.
As 15 years pass since the disaster, the fading memory of the catastrophe remains a challenge, while natural disasters continue to occur frequently in various regions in recent years. In such circumstances, we believe that examining how the administration grasped the situation immediately after a disaster, what it prioritized, and how it made decisions holds important implications for future disaster prevention and mitigation. Through these exhibitions, we aim to provide an opportunity for each visitor to reflect on their judgments and actions during a disaster, and to review their own preparedness and organizational responses.
Special Exhibition: "The Administration Kept Moving Amidst Loss and Chaos"
Immediately after the earthquake, Minamisanriku Town's government office was damaged, and many staff members were lost. With information cut off and the entire town in chaos, what decisions did the administration make, and how did it continue to operate?
This exhibition introduces:
・The administration's actions immediately after the earthquake
・Responses at evacuation centers
・Development of temporary housing
・Collaboration with support from across the country
These topics will be presented through historical documents, photographs, and testimonies from that time. The exhibition conveys "the role of the administration and decision-making during a disaster" through contemporary newspaper articles, documents, and video testimonies from those involved.
Venue: Exhibition Gallery (Paid Zone)
Admission: 200 yen (Theater ticket)
Special Exhibition: "The Bonds of People Who Supported Minamisanriku After the Disaster"
After the earthquake, many people from all over Japan supported Minamisanriku. The efforts of many, including volunteers, corporate support, inter-municipal cooperation, and medical/welfare assistance, supported the town's recovery.
This exhibition introduces:
・Support from across the country
・Volunteer activities
・Corporate recovery support
・Mutual aid among residents
These topics will be presented to convey the human connections that supported the recovery.
Venue: Minna no Hiroba (Free Zone)
Event Outline
Period: April 1, 2026 (Wednesday) - July 6, 2026 (Monday)
Venue: Minamisanriku 311 Memorial
Exhibition Structure:
Special Exhibition ①
"The Administration Kept Moving Amidst Loss and Chaos"
Exhibition Gallery (Paid)
Special Exhibition ②
"The Bonds of People Who Supported Minamisanriku After the Disaster"
Minna no Hiroba (Free)
About Minamisanriku 311 Memorial
Minamisanriku 311 Memorial is a disaster heritage facility that conveys the records and lessons of the Great East Japan Earthquake to future generations.
Its purpose is to transmit knowledge to generations unfamiliar with the earthquake and to connect learning from disasters to actions that protect lives, carrying out activities such as exhibitions and "town walks" led by storytellers.
Minamisanriku 311 Memorial (Operated by Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association)
[Official Website] https://m311m.jp/
■You can view a list of press releases from the Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association here: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/32102
■For tourism information in Minamisanriku Town, please see here: https://www.m-kankou.jp/
■Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association Official SNS Accounts
X (@MSkankou): https://twitter.com/MSkankou
Instagram (@mskankou): https://www.instagram.com/mskankou/
Facebook (@minamisanriku): https://www.facebook.com/minamisanriku
■About Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association
The Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association was established in 2009. Its purpose is to promote the attraction of tourists by leveraging the cultural, social, and economic characteristics of Minamisanriku Town and its surrounding areas, as well as to introduce and publicize tourist destinations and products, promote the development of tourist facilities, and improve the quality of tourism-related personnel, thereby contributing to the improvement of local living culture and the development of the industrial economy. It conducts its business to achieve this purpose.
Immediately after the earthquake, what decisions did the administration make, and how did it continue to operate? The exhibition "The Administration Kept Moving Amidst Loss and Chaos," which traces the continuous decision-making and responses during the confusion, will be held concurrently with "The Bonds of People Who Supported Minamisanriku After the Disaster," an exhibition focusing on the human connections that supported the recovery.
As 15 years pass since the disaster, the fading memory of the catastrophe remains a challenge, while natural disasters continue to occur frequently in various regions in recent years. In such circumstances, we believe that examining how the administration grasped the situation immediately after a disaster, what it prioritized, and how it made decisions holds important implications for future disaster prevention and mitigation. Through these exhibitions, we aim to provide an opportunity for each visitor to reflect on their judgments and actions during a disaster, and to review their own preparedness and organizational responses.
Special Exhibition: "The Administration Kept Moving Amidst Loss and Chaos"
Immediately after the earthquake, Minamisanriku Town's government office was damaged, and many staff members were lost. With information cut off and the entire town in chaos, what decisions did the administration make, and how did it continue to operate?
This exhibition introduces:
・The administration's actions immediately after the earthquake
・Responses at evacuation centers
・Development of temporary housing
・Collaboration with support from across the country
These topics will be presented through historical documents, photographs, and testimonies from that time. The exhibition conveys "the role of the administration and decision-making during a disaster" through contemporary newspaper articles, documents, and video testimonies from those involved.
Venue: Exhibition Gallery (Paid Zone)
Admission: 200 yen (Theater ticket)
Special Exhibition: "The Bonds of People Who Supported Minamisanriku After the Disaster"
After the earthquake, many people from all over Japan supported Minamisanriku. The efforts of many, including volunteers, corporate support, inter-municipal cooperation, and medical/welfare assistance, supported the town's recovery.
This exhibition introduces:
・Support from across the country
・Volunteer activities
・Corporate recovery support
・Mutual aid among residents
These topics will be presented to convey the human connections that supported the recovery.
Venue: Minna no Hiroba (Free Zone)
Event Outline
Period: April 1, 2026 (Wednesday) - July 6, 2026 (Monday)
Venue: Minamisanriku 311 Memorial
Exhibition Structure:
Special Exhibition ①
"The Administration Kept Moving Amidst Loss and Chaos"
Exhibition Gallery (Paid)
Special Exhibition ②
"The Bonds of People Who Supported Minamisanriku After the Disaster"
Minna no Hiroba (Free)
About Minamisanriku 311 Memorial
Minamisanriku 311 Memorial is a disaster heritage facility that conveys the records and lessons of the Great East Japan Earthquake to future generations.
Its purpose is to transmit knowledge to generations unfamiliar with the earthquake and to connect learning from disasters to actions that protect lives, carrying out activities such as exhibitions and "town walks" led by storytellers.
Minamisanriku 311 Memorial (Operated by Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association)
[Official Website] https://m311m.jp/
■You can view a list of press releases from the Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association here: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/32102
■For tourism information in Minamisanriku Town, please see here: https://www.m-kankou.jp/
■Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association Official SNS Accounts
X (@MSkankou): https://twitter.com/MSkankou
Instagram (@mskankou): https://www.instagram.com/mskankou/
Facebook (@minamisanriku): https://www.facebook.com/minamisanriku
■About Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association
The Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association was established in 2009. Its purpose is to promote the attraction of tourists by leveraging the cultural, social, and economic characteristics of Minamisanriku Town and its surrounding areas, as well as to introduce and publicize tourist destinations and products, promote the development of tourist facilities, and improve the quality of tourism-related personnel, thereby contributing to the improvement of local living culture and the development of the industrial economy. It conducts its business to achieve this purpose.
FAQ
What are the main themes of the special exhibitions?
The two main themes are the administrative decisions immediately after the disaster and the bonds of people who supported the recovery.
What are the dates and venue for the exhibitions?
They will be held from April 1 to July 6, 2026, at the Minamisanriku 311 Memorial.
Is there an admission fee?
The "Administration Kept Moving Amidst Loss and Chaos" exhibition costs 200 yen, while "The Bonds of People Who Supported Minamisanriku After the Disaster" is free.