Rural Tohoku beyond recovery: Local politics, governance, and the erosion of social capital during reconstruction

In response to the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, the Japanese national government launched a variety of redevelopment projects in the north-east Tohoku region. These projects have been regulated by the Reconstruction Agency.... [ view full abstract ]

In response to the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, the Japanese national government launched a variety of redevelopment projects in the north-east Tohoku region. These projects have been regulated by the Reconstruction Agency. The Agency’s mandate is to promote economic development through private-public partnerships, special programs, and other incentives. Despite the Agency’s economic efforts, major social issues in rural affected areas continue to worsen, such as an aging population and out-migration. Reconstruction projects appear to have largely benefitted large firms through neoliberal economic policies that grant funding for industry projects but not for local community projects, needs, or requests. This study investigates these issues through an analysis of empirical data collected in Miyagi from 2014 to the present. This data features key informant interviews (n=10) from 2017 and additional interviews of farmers, fishermen, and other workers (n=25) from 2018. This paper utilizes social capital as the conceptual framework for examining a rural coastal town in Tohoku (Minamisanriku, Miyagi) and the community redevelopment taking place there. This study answers the larger question of how social capital is impacted by government focus on economic redevelopment and how does this affects community redevelopment. Findings show an active erosion of social capital is occurring, with broad implications for local politics, governance, and community redevelopment. These implications demonstrate the importance of promoting social capital, especially in rural areas, during redevelopment planning and including resident participation post-disaster.