SIW

When I suddenly need a hot spring, a 50-minite Shinkanse ride gives me the best solution. Heading for Yugawara.
突然温泉に行きたくなったら、新幹線に50分乗るのがベストなソリューション。湯河原へ向かう。

Today I get back home from Sendai using an unusual route. I take ANA's 737 to Narita. I guess only avgeeks would do this.
今日は仙台からいつもとちょっと違う方法で帰宅する。ANAの737で成田へ。こんなことをするのは航空機オタクだけだろう。

I was the only passenger in Premium Class cabin. Enjoyed CA's one-to-one service throughout the flight.
プレミアムクラスキャビンの客は僕一人。フライト中はずっと、CAさんがワントゥーワンのサービスをしてくれた。

My first take-off from Sendai Airport. Then left turn towards Sendai Bay.
仙台空港から初めてテイクオフ。すぐに仙台湾に向けてレフトターン。

The sun on the wing and the moon in the sky.
翼に太陽。空に月。

Touched down at Narita in the beautiful late afternoon light. After riding an apron bus to the terminal, I still need to ride a train for an hour to get to downtown Tokyo. ANA B737-700 SDJ-NRT. The 592nd flight in my lifetime.
夕方の美しい光に包まれた成田にタッチダウン。ターミナルまでエプロンバスに乗った後、都心まではさらに1時間列車に乗らなくてはならない。ANA B737-700 SDJ-NRT。生涯592フライト目。

First time to experience Sendai Airport. This airport was heavily damaged by the 311 tsunami in 2011 but reopened in just about a month. Right after the tsunami, USAF and JSDF cleaned up the runway and set a mobile radio system for air traffic control. Then they used this airport as a base for Operation Tomodachi, the disaster relief operation. I like its light-filled terminal building with huge glass walls.
仙台空港を初めて使う。この空港は2011年3月11日の津波で大きな被害を受けたが、約1か月ほどで再開された。津波の直後には米空軍が自衛隊と一緒に滑走路の瓦礫を撤去し、航空管制のための可動式無線機を設置。この空港を災害救助作戦「オペレーション・トモダチ」の拠点にした。大きなグラスウォールを持つ、光で一杯のターミナルビルディングがいい。

They exhibit Fuji FA-200 Aero Subaru inside the terminal. This Japanese plane reminds you that Subaru is also a aircraft manufacturer.
ターミナルの中には富士重工FA-200エアロスバルが展示してある。スバルが航空機メーカーでもあることを思い出させてくれる国産機。

Looking in Ishinomaki direction. Asiana's A321 and CRJ200 of IBEX Airlines are on the tarmac.
この海の先に石巻がある。ターマックの上にはアシアナのA321と、IBEXのCRJ200が。

Skymark's brand-new 737-800 arrives.
スカイマークの真新しい737-800が到着。

It's always nice to see Team Ishinomaki in Tokyo. But this evening, I can see them in Ishinomaki. That's way nicer. At Izakata Ebisu in Tatemachi. From left: Koizumi-san, Saito-san, Kyoko-san, Matsumura-san, Katsu-san from Ishinomaki 2.0. Masu-san a.k.a. Maa-suu from ITNAV. Endo-san and Yuasa-san from Ishinomaki 2.0. Shimawaki-san a.k.a. Mitchey from ITNAV.
東京でチーム石巻に会うといつも楽しい。でも今夜は石巻で会えるので、さらに楽しい。立町の居酒屋恵比寿で。左から：石巻2.0の小泉さん、斉藤さん、享子さん、松村さん、勝さん。イトナブの増さんa.k.a.マースー。石巻2.0の遠藤さんと湯浅さん。イトナブの嶋脇さんa.k.a.ミッチー。

My favorite buildings in Ishinomaki under the blue sky. This is Kankeimaru Store, Ishnomaki's first department store built in 1930. It looks as if it has a concrete structue, but it is actually a wooden building with an exterior using ceramic tiles.
青い空に映える、大好きな石巻の建物たち。こちらは1930年に建てられた石巻で最初の百貨店、観慶丸商店。コンクリート造のように見えるが、陶磁器タイルの外壁を持った木造建築。

The Second SS Building, which sits directly across the street from Kankeimaru Building, was built in 1925 as a bank. Both buildings survived the 2005 Miyagi earthquake and the 311 tsunami. They are treasures of the city and guardians of Aitopia Avenue. 道をはさんで観慶丸の向かいにある第2SSビルは、1925年に銀行として建てられた。2005年の宮城県沖地震にも311の津波にも耐えた2つの建物は、街の宝物であり、アイトピア通りの守護神。

Ishinomaki School is a new program launched by Ishinomaki 2.0 for future generations in Ishinomaki. In this series of workshops held at IRORI Ishinomaki, high school students will work on a real-life project to address the challenge in their community. 5 young people from organizations supporting the community, fishery industry, and ITNAV, along with the Ishinomaki 2.0 team, sit next to the students as tutors to help them. The workshop is designed to let participants experience researches, brainstorming, discussions, presentations, and executions in a practical way simulating the method which marketing professionals actually use. As one of organizers, I gave them a keynote presentation to kick off the project and will continue to support the program. The discussion at the workshop became very vibrant and I was overwhelmed by the potential these young Ishinomakians have. I'm sure this city will soon be a birthplace of many game changers, innovators, and rebels who will make positi…

Enjoying Hamaguri-do's specialty, curry and rice with local venison.
はまぐり堂の名物、地元の鹿肉を使ったカレーをいただく。



Any multimillion-dollar marketing can never make this place and experience.
マーケティングに何億円つぎ込もうが、この場所とこの体験を作り出すことはできない。

This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen in Japan.
こんなに美しい場所を、僕はこれまで日本で見たことがない。




Kameyama-san, the owner of Cafe Hamaguri-do (The house of clams), had been living in a nearly 100-year-old house at a fishing village called Hamaguri Beach on the Oshika Peninsula near Ishinomaki. On March 11th, 2011, this tiny village was devastated by the tsunami. The number of households living here dropped from 9 to 3, and he also left the village. But he couldn’t turn his back on the place filled with memories he cherishes. So he launched the project to revive the village with a help of volunteers who were willing to support him. As the first step, they renovated his home and turned it into a cafe named Hamaguri-do. They are also preparing to open a restaurant and an inn next to the cafe. The construction of a tree house is taken place as well. Team's ultimate dream is the rebirth of the village as a community that attracts younger generations and connects people. This place is so beautifu…

Visited Onagawa, a neighboring town of Ishinomaki, which was heavily damaged by the 311 tsunami, with Koizumi-san from Ishinomaki 2.0. At the parking lot of community medical center overlooking Onagawa Bay, we met a member of the local NPO who is supporting projects like El Faro, the unique trailer house hotel run by local inn owners who lost their properties. A recovery is still a long way off, but people working hard to rebuild the community are bringing new energy to this town.
石巻2.0の小泉さんと一緒に、石巻の隣りにある、311の津波で大きな被害を受けた女川町を訪問した。女川湾を一望する医療センターの駐車場でお会いしたのは、地元のNPOのメンバーの方。彼らは、自らの施設を失った旅館経営者の方々が運営するユニークなトレーラーハウスのホテル「El Faro」などのプロジェクトをサポートしている。復興への道はまだ長いが、コミュニティの再建に向けて取り組みを続ける人たちが、この街で新しいエネルギーを生み出している。


Koizumi-san is standing in front of the prefabricate studio of 79.3MHz –Onagawa Saigai (disaster) FM, the temporary community radio station. They were launched about a month after the tsunami to provide information to the people who lost almost every tool of communication. Since then, this s…

This is another must-visit place in Ishinomaki. Hiyori Kitchen is the all-day dining restaurant created by Amano-san, an architect and a member of Ishisnomaki 2.0, and her peers. They renovated a hundred-year-old house in a DIY way and introduced menus to discover the richness of local ingredients and recipes. They won Good Design Award in 2013.
石巻で見逃せないもう一つの場所。日和キッチンは、石巻2.0のメンバーでもある建築家の天野さんが仲間たちと作ったオールデイダイニングレストラン。築100年の古民家をDIYでリノベし、地元の食材やレシピの豊かさを紹介する数々のメニューを用意した。2013年にグッドデザイン賞も受賞している。

They serve great breakfast that has a homey touch at a very reasonable price. This morning, I had a set with local mackerel "Kinka saba". Here, the history of Ishinomaki, local flavor, a warm hospitality, and a sophisticated design are blended together and that makes your dining experience so delightful.
ここでは家庭的な美味しい朝食を、実にリーズナブルな価格で楽しめる。今朝は地元の金華さばを使った定食をいただいた。石巻の歴史と味わい、温かなホスピタリティ、そして洗練されたデザインを融合させたこの店での食事は、とても幸せな体験。

Dinner at Sukeroku Zushi in Ishinomaki downtown. This restaurant is run by the father of Chiba-san, the factory head of Ishinomaki Laboratory. This place was damaged by the 311 tsunami, but came back recently. Chiba-san himself was a sushi chef here, but he is now concentrating on the business of Ishinomaki Laboratory. Boiled conger they serve here is worth the trip.
石巻のダウンタウンにある助六鮨でディナー。ここは石巻工房の工房長である千葉さんのお父さんがやっている店。311の津波で被害を受けたが、最近復活した。千葉さん自身もこの店で鮨職人をやっていたのだが、今では石巻工房のビジネスに集中している。煮穴子が特に絶品で、それを食べるためにわざわざ石巻まで出かけてもいいほど。

Their tables are, of course, built by Ishinomaki Laboratory.
店のテーブルは、もちろん石巻工房謹製。

Hopping around creative communities at Aitopia Avenue of Ishinomaki. This is Ishinomaki Laboratory, the community furniture & crafts studio who has made an ambitious international launch including Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano, Ambiente in Frankfurt, and pan-European distribution.
石巻のアイトピア通りの周辺にあるクリエイティブコミュニティを歩いて回る。こちらは石巻工房。ミラノ・サローネやフランクフルトのアンビエンテへの参加、汎ヨーロッパでの販売など野心的な世界展開を行っている、地域のための家具&工芸スタジオ。

Hiyori Art Center is a cozy small gallery who is supporting local artists.
日和アートセンターは、地元のアーティストたちをサポートしている、居心地の良い小さなギャラリー。

At Community Cafe Kameshichi (Comi-Kame), you will always be welcomed by smiles and warm hospitality of the owner Mr. and Mrs.Yonekura and their team. コミュニティカフェ・かめ七（コミかめ）では、オーナーの米倉さんご夫妻とチームの皆さんがいつでも笑顔で温かく迎えてくれる。
Next stop is ITNAV, a neighbor of Ishinomaki Laboratory. They educate younger generations about software development and web design with a mission to foster 1000 IT engineers in Ishinomaki. Today I could meet Shimawaki-san a.k.a. Mitchey (left) a…

This place is where it all began. Shochiku, one of the most renowned restaurants in Ishinomaki, is the birthplace of Ishinomaki 2.0. The origin of Shochiku is Abeshin, the traditional inn with a history of over 300 years. In 2010, they closed inn business to concentrate on the restaurant and renovated the property. Then the following year, the 311 tsunami hit them. However, Abe-san, the 14th generation descendant of Abeshin's owner family, never gave up. He had several meetings with his peers at Shochiku's 2nd floor which survived the tsunami to think about how to rebuild the community. And eventually these gatherings led to the launch of Ishinomaki 2.0, the creative-driven organization for the future of Ishinomaki. He also restarted his business on a food truck, in supermarkets, and online, then last year reopened the restaurant at the original location.
すべてはここから始まった。石巻で最も評価の高い料理店の一つである「松竹」は、石巻2.0が生まれた場所。「松竹」の原点は300年以上の歴史を持つ旅館「阿部新」で、2010年に旅館業を閉じて料理に集中するためリノベーションを行ったが、その翌年に31…