Residents of the picturesque Matsushima area in Miyagi Prefecture, whose homes were swept away by the March 11 quake-induced tsunami, will likely be allowed to rebuild their homes in the otherwise restricted area to preserve the landscape, authorities say.
In Matsushima, known for one of Japan’s most beautiful coastal sceneries with around 230 pine-clad islets, construction of new buildings is forbidden in some areas and an approval is required from the head of the Cultural Affairs Agency to make changes under the Cultural Assets Preservation Law.
But many residents of the area straddling two cities and three towns, where numerous people died or remain missing in the disaster, want to build their new homes upland nearby, particularly older people, prefectural officials said.
In light of their wishes, Seiichi Kondo, the head of the agency under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, told Miyagi Gov Yoshihiro Murai late April that he will ‘‘consider individual situations in making decisions’’ on the matter.
The prefecture will set up later this month a committee of municipal leaders and outside experts to come up with a grand design on scenic protection and reconstruction in the area and also discuss individual cases, the officials said.
Among the residents, a 61-year-old seaweed grower from the city of Higashimatsushima said, ‘‘I had my house and ship washed away, and will have to start from scratch. I don’t want to leave this place.’’
© 2011 Kyodo News. @ .japantoday.com
