15 Years Since the Great East Japan Earthquake: Ishinomaki High School Students Complete a Video Offering a 'Chance to Learn About the Disaster' to Their Peers Nationwide

Watch the video here:

・https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AsRq72rka/ (Facebook)

・https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWgLlH0CPaz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== (Instagram)

*Permission for posting has been obtained from all individuals involved after the video production.

A team of high school students participating in the program "MUMUMU!", planned and operated by the General Incorporated Foundation Machi to Hito (Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture / Representative Director: Seitaro Saito), has produced a video aimed at their generation to provide a "chance to learn about the Great East Japan Earthquake."

"MUMUMU!" is a program launched this fiscal year with the aim of continuously supporting challenges by junior and senior high school students, while creating opportunities for them to find peers with whom they can discuss and encourage each other. It involves workshops held about twice a month and tailored support for each participant.

The high school students who produced this video have been active as the first cohort of "MUMUMU!" since October. Over approximately six months, they engaged in discussions with team members about disaster remembrance and their local area, consulted with local residents involved in disaster remembrance, and interviewed those who experienced the disaster.

Background of Video Production

This video was created by current high school students, a generation with almost no memory of the Great East Japan Earthquake at the time it occurred.

The high school students who primarily produced the video were young children, 1-2 years old, when the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred. They belong to a generation with almost no memories of that time, but they grew up surrounded by adults who had experienced the disaster.

One of the main high school students involved in the production has previously worked as a child reporter for the "Ishinomaki Hibi Children's Newspaper" (published by the General Incorporated Association Kodomo Mirai Research Institute).

Through that experience, she felt the difficulty of transmitting disaster memories to her own generation. In "MUMUMU!", she aimed to "increase opportunities for people of the same generation to become more interested in the Great East Japan Earthquake."

Other high school members who resonated with this desire to "increase opportunities" also cooperated, and a team of four produced the video.

In producing the video, the team discussed various things:

"To what extent can we, who have no memory, talk about the situation at that time?"

"How should we convey it to our peers?"

"Shouldn't we learn more ourselves first?"

"What can we do with our own power?"

...

The video was produced by addressing each of these feelings of discomfort, which are increasingly felt by generations who barely remember or did not directly experience the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Key Points of the Produced Video

(1) Original setting easily relatable to peers

To make the characters feel familiar, the story is set as a conversation between two people: a current high school student (same generation) and someone who was a high school student at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Also, in creating the video, they focused on honestly conveying what they themselves felt and considered important during interviews and other research.

(2) Set in the area around "Ishinomaki Minamihama Tsunami Memorial Park"

By setting the stage in an area with many disaster remembrance facilities, the content was designed to encourage viewers who want to "know more" to actually visit the site, reflect on the situation at the time, or delve deeper into researching the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The video specifically highlights the flowerbeds of the "Irin Blue Project," conveying that there are diverse initiatives to connect the Great East Japan Earthquake to the future.

(3) Anime-style short video using illustrations + photos

Considering what they could do with their own hands and abilities, they produced an anime-style video combining the talents of a high school student skilled in illustration, another skilled in photography, and one interested in "acting."

Furthermore, it was designed as a short video for social media posting, considering its familiarity to the high school generation.

Message from the High School Students Who Produced the Video

〇 Ms. Riri Muramatsu

I have been active as a child reporter for the Ishinomaki Hibi Children's Newspaper since I was young.

Leveraging that experience, I repeatedly tried to create opportunities for more people to connect with the disaster, and the result is this video.

Through my activities in "MUMUMU!", my desire to ensure the disaster is not forgotten grew even stronger, and I deeply felt the necessity for our generation, who have no memory of the disaster, to engage in remembrance activities.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who cooperated over these six months, and to all viewers. Thank you very much! I hope this video will serve as a catalyst for weaving the future.

〇 Ms. Konomi Takeyama

I have no memory of the disaster, and I hadn't actively tried to get involved much. However, through my activities in "MUMUMU!", as I worked and listened to stories, my interest in the disaster and disaster remembrance clearly grew stronger than before.

I hope that people of my generation, who have no memory of the disaster and few opportunities to get involved in remembrance activities themselves, will watch this video and become even slightly interested.

Thank you very much to everyone who supported us for six months. I would be delighted if this video reaches the hearts of many viewers.

What is MUMUMU! ?

"MUMUMU!" is an inquiry-based program planned and operated by the General Incorporated Foundation Machi to Hito, where junior and senior high school students in the Ishinomaki region explore their interests within the community and plan and realize various projects.

In its first year, this fiscal year, 14 high school students were thoroughly supported for approximately six months, deepening their "things they want to try!" and leading to projects such as the following (partial excerpt):

• Holding events to learn about disaster prevention in a fun way

• Holding an exhibition collecting "common things" and "slightly annoying things" in Ishinomaki from a high school student's perspective

• Holding exchange meetings with people working in the community and conducting interviews to think about their own future

• Conducting interviews with various people and holding charity events aimed at supporting poverty overseas

• Considering what they can do to protect the sea of Ishinomaki against "garbage problems" and taking action

• Holding "old-fashioned games" events with the aim of interacting with diverse generations

What is the General Incorporated Foundation Machi to Hito?

With the vision of "a town where all young people in the Ishinomaki region can achieve super self-realization," we support various challenges and growth opportunities for young people, especially high school students, in collaboration with schools, local governments, and the community.

Official website: https://machihito.jp/

〇 Main activities

・Support for "Comprehensive Study Time" at high schools in the Ishinomaki region

・Planning and operation of "Mirai Library" dialogue classes with working adults

・Regional education projects such as "Maki Bora" and "DIVE!"

・Planning and production of "Ishinomaki Exploration Guide for High School Students"

・Coordination of university internships, etc.