"Slow" Projects and Characteristics of the City of Kesennuma

Resilience and Urban Reconstruction: The administration adopted a "Reconstruction Manifesto" to guide city regeneration and the recovery of its historical, cultural, and commercial heritage. A major project is underway to revitalize the central districts of Mikkamachi and Yokamachi (including the One Ten Building and Mikkamachi King's Town) by rebuilding structures, improving accessibility with ramps and unified paving, and planning new land uses. Communication technology is also being adapted for post-disaster scenarios: the restored optical fiber network is specifically designed to withstand future disasters and guarantee emergency communications.

Environmental Protection and Energy: Before the tsunami, the water purification plant (active since 1984) protected the Kesennuma Gulf; following its total destruction, restoration work is underway on the same site for a swift reactivation. Waste sorting divides refuse into combustible (collected twice a week), non-combustible (twice a month), and recyclable materials, which are then processed in a shared incinerator. The municipality actively promotes domestic composting by purchasing specific electric composting machines for residents, and incentivizes the installation of solar energy systems in public buildings.

Agriculture, Local Products, and Traditions: Agricultural recovery is driven by the "First General Plan for the City of Kesennuma," which promotes safe, organic farming. A dedicated "local product day" has been established for school canteens, supported by food education classes designed to teach children the value of local raw materials and traditional industries. In the artisanal sector, the city issues public merit awards to specialized workers and master craftsmen who have contributed to the local economic and social recovery. Short supply chains are actively promoted through direct sales markets (such as the "Road Station").

Hospitality and Slow Tourism: In September 2012, a new tourist information office staffed with regional experts opened in front of the train station. A comprehensive tourism strategy is currently being developed, which includes installing new welcoming billboards, implementing multilingual assistance services, and creating physical guides and interactive web pages dedicated to culinary itineraries and local products.

Social Cohesion, Health, and Mobility: Because Kesennuma's topography often necessitates car travel, the tsunami severely crippled mobility for refugees by destroying most traffic lights; the administration is currently installing reinforced signage and infrastructure. Alongside prioritizing care for people with disabilities (developing "barrier-free" socio-health facilities like the Sukoyaka center), the city runs food education programs aimed at improving daily health habits. Active community participation ("bottom-up") is demonstrated by the "Hanamichi 45" (flower path) voluntary greening project, which aims to restore nature and decorum to the city center.