Iwate

Iwate exists in the aftermath of the wave. When the 2011 Tohoku tsunami struck, Iwate's Sanriku coast—famous for dramatic ria coastline and fisheries—took the full force. Cities like Rikuzentakata were largely destroyed. The prefecture's fishing industry, already struggling with aging crews, lost boats, processing facilities, and the communities that sustained them.

Reconstruction has been visible but incomplete. Seawalls now line the coast, some controversial for blocking ocean views that define local identity. New housing replaced temporary shelters. But population continues to decline—young people who evacuated often didn't return. The World Bank studied Iwate's recovery as a model for post-disaster rebuilding; the lessons are mixed.

Beyond the coast, Iwate's interior preserves older Japan. The Hiraizumi cultural landscape—Buddhist temples and gardens from the 12th century Fujiwara clan—received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2011, just months after the tsunami. Wanko soba noodle eating competitions draw tourists who try to consume dozens of small bowls. By 2026, Iwate's challenge is familiar across rural Japan: can heritage tourism and sustainable fisheries support communities when young workers keep leaving? The wave destroyed and revealed what was already eroding.