Concerns about seawalls

13 Mars 2014

March 12, 2014

Japan's first lady concerned about gov't-led seawall construction in disaster areas

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140312p2a00m0na014000c.html

Japan's first lady Akie Abe has been active in supporting the 2011 disaster-hit areas and affected residents ever since the Great East Japan Earthquake, visiting the tsunami-ravaged Tohoku region on multiple occasions. She has been raising her voice since last fall to review a seawall construction project the national government is preparing. Abe's husband Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also referred to the project's possible review in a March 10 Diet session. The Mainichi Shimbun recently interviewed the first lady on her intention to oppose the massive seawall construction project.

Question: Why are you pushing for a review on the government-led seawall construction project?

Answer: I began to have concerns about the project around June last year and have met people who are also worried about it through my visits to Kesennuma (a coastal city in Miyagi Prefecture). I spoke at the Liberal Democratic Party's environmental committee in December last year and also have held forums on the issue in Kesennuma.

From what I have learned through research, the planned seawall does not completely protect coastal municipalities from waves. While I do understand that seawalls need to have a certain height, I couldn't see how standards for the size of the construction were decided. The massive seawalls would work against local needs by destroying an ecosystem and creating unattractive areas where people can't see the ocean. They are costly and I don't think the government should build what is more than necessary.

Q: How did your meeting last month with Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai -- who is promoting the project -- go?

A: I didn't intend to campaign against the project. I just wanted to tell him that I hoped he would carry out disaster recovery work for the benefit of locals, but we were not on the same page. Gov. Murai told me that he had seen many people who lost their families and friends in front of their eyes and that he doesn't want his people to ever go through that again. He emphasized the need for the seawall project.

I said to him, "Not everyone agrees with the project. Even if the seawalls offer safety to towns, it would be meaningless if they became unappealing to young people and drove them out of the towns." I also asked him to listen to what the young have to say about the project. I'm hoping to hold a forum in April in Sendai to provide an opportunity for people to discuss the issue.

Q: Have you heard of any local residents who want the seawalls?

A: I personally haven't. Municipal governments may have requested the project, but I'm not sure if any individual who was affected by the tsunami has asked for it. I suspect the construction plan was never thoroughly debated among locals. I don't think the prefectural government would have approved it if the cost of the project had to be covered by the prefecture's budget. It might be possible that the prefectural government cannot see the most important issue because the cost for the seawall project will be covered by the national government.

The same logic can be applied to nuclear power plant projects. Even though there are those who oppose such undertakings, depopulated towns have no choice but to accept the project as it brings financial benefits to the community.

Q: Do you think municipal governments have accepted reconstruction projects mapped out by the national government rather than taking local needs into consideration?

A: The other day, I met with students at Kita Junior High School in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, who have been in touch with the disaster-hit Minato Junior High School in the Miyagi Prefecture city of Ishinomaki. The Aichi students asked those in Ishinomaki what they needed after the disaster and collected about 800,000 yen with support from local residents and used the money to buy equipment for school clubs. It's not much money, but that was important for the Miyagi school and students can continue their school club activities thanks to the donation.

When I heard that story, I couldn't help but compare it with the seawall project that is said to cost 800 billion yen to a trillion yen. I've been married to a politician for a long time, but it was the first time I noticed that sort of thing. The seawall project had opened my eyes.

Q: How will you participate in disaster recovery?

A: I think we should work not only on disaster recovery in the affected areas but also on creating a diverse society. Community planning should not aim at creating a "small Tokyo" in every part of the country, but should make full use of characteristics unique to each community. If there is one thing particular to that community, it attracts people. Agriculture can be that special attraction and many young people are interested in that area.

I'm not sure how long my husband will be in office, but when he resigns, I'm hoping to include farming in my lifestyle.

I hope those who have found interest in volunteer work after working for the disaster-affected areas would support each other like helping out neighboring countries when they are in need of assistance. (Interview by Yasuo Yoshinaga and Tetsuya Kageyama, Political News Department)