Sendai city /仙台市 in Miyagi prefecture/ 宮城県 is the largest city in the Tohoku/東北 area (the northern area of Japan). As you know, the area was very seriously damaged by the 3/11 earthquake. Since the epicenter of the massive earthquake was near Miyagi prefecture, the earthquake has wreaked untold havoc in the prefecture. It has been reported that Miyagi is the worst-hit prefecture.
Before the crisis, Sendai city fascinated people, especially those from Tokyo. Since Sendai is a business hub in the northern area, it was not uncommon for people in Tokyo to be transferred to Sendai before the earthquake. I'd often hear that these people were reluctant to return to Tokyo when they were transferred back. Sendai was a peaceful and relaxing place for people who were tired of the hectic life in a large city like Tokyo. Sendai provided both a city life and a country life. The modern city was in harmony with nature. A one-hour drive from the city took you to a famous range of volcanoes, and a 15-minute drive from downtown Sendai took you to a beautiful beach, although it was entirely washed away by the huge tsunami. Matsushima Bay/松島, which is well-known as one of the three most scenic spots in Japan/日本三景, is approximately 30 kilometers from Sendai. On top of that, the local food was good and the living cost in Sendai was much lower than that in Tokyo. Local people were friendly (I'm sure they are still friendly even after the earthquake). Sendai had things that Tokyo had lost.
A lot of factories in the northern area were seriously damaged by the earthquake and Tsunami. Many auto parts and electronics were produced there. As you may know, the shutdown of these factories has greatly affected both Japanese and global supply chains. I've heard that since people in the northern area are persistent and tolerant, they are well oriented to manufacturing precision or sensitive equipment. Speaking of supply chains, many factories associated with Hitachi in Ibaraki prefecture/茨城県 were also seriously damaged and haven't restarted production yet.
93 year-old woman who lost everything because of the huge Tsunami said on TV while smiling " When I was young, I lost everything because of another huge Tunami from Chile. We rebuilt our town. However, the town was washed away again. I'm very frustrated. So, I don't want to die until my town is rebuilt. I'll live until I turn 100". She was playing with children at a shelter where she stays and was trying to cheer them up. How strong she is !
Sendai
The three most scenic spots in Japan
