SIW

This is another example of Ishinomaki's creativity. Hayashi-san, the third generation of the family who runs a kimono store at Tachimachi Shopping Mall Street , is creating unique Ishinomaki Kokeshi s , a new wave of Tohoku region's traditional wooden dolls which have motifs inspired by Ishinomaki's nature. These colorful kokeshi s with expressive faces are available at his store Tree Tree Ishinomaki . これもまた、石巻ならではのクリエイティビティの例。 立町商店街 にある呉服店の三代目である林さんは、石巻の自然をモチーフにしたこけしのニューウェーブ 「石巻こけし」 を作っている。カラフルで表情豊かなこけしたちは、林さんのお店 「Tree Tree Ishinomaki」 で販売中。 Special bespoke kokeshi s are also available. These are Hiyori Kitchen Kokeshi and Ishinomaki 2.0 Kokeshi . こけしには特注バージョンも。こちらは 日和キッチン バージョンと ISHINOMAKI 2.0 バージョン。

I checked out Comichi Ishinomaki which is near completion. Comichi is an ambitious development project to bring vibrancy back to Matsukawa Yokocho —a historic narrow alley connecting the riverside and downtown Ishinomaki. The project including restaurants, residences, and shared houses targeted at younger generations is driven by local land owners and people who are working on community building in Ishinomaki such as Kyoko-san from Makigumi . Comichi, meaning a narrow alley in Japanese, abbreviates "Community with Interaction, Creativity, History, and Innovation" and this was what I came up with in a naming workshop with high school students of Ishinomaki School . Together with adjacent Hashidoori Common , this place will nurture new lifestyles and re-energize Downtown Ishinomaki. 完成間近の COMICHI石巻 へ。COMICHIは、川沿いと石巻の中心市街地をつなぐ歴史ある小路「松川横丁」に賑わいを取り戻すことを目指した野心的な開発プロジェクト。飲食店、住宅、そして若い世代をターゲットにしたシェアハウスからなるこのプロジェクトは、地元の地権者のみなさんと、 巻組の亨子さん をはじめとする石巻の街作りに取り組む人たちが進めている。「Community

ISHINOMAKI 2.0 team set up  Tanabata Depot next to IRORI Ishinomaki . During Ishinomaki Stand Up Week , this place became a tanabata ornament gallery, a studio to have photo sessions with ornaments, and a dock for the ornaments in the evening. ISHINOMAKI2.0 チームは、 IRORI石巻 の隣に七夕デポを開設した。 石巻Stand Up Week 期間中、ここは 七夕飾り のギャラリーになり、七夕飾りとのフォトセッションが行われるスタジオになり、夜には七夕飾りのドックになる。 "Join the future called Ishinomaki." —the slogan I wrote for Ishinomaki Stand Up Week 2015. 僕が書かせてもらった、石巻Stand Up Week 2015のスローガン。

This time, in addition to my regular room ... 今回は、 いつもの部屋 に加えて・・・ I stayed in their Japanese-style room for the first time. The room is spacious and has a spot garden. Not bad. 初めて和室を体験。スペースに余裕があり、坪庭もついている。悪くない。

JR's Senseki Line connecting Sendai City and Ishinomaki was damaged by the 311 tsunami in 2011 and its service had been partially suspended since then. And in May of this year the entire line resumed after 4 years. 仙台の街と石巻をつなぐJR仙石線は2011年の震災で被災し、それ以来一部の区間が不通になっていたが、この5月に4年ぶりに全線が開通した。 Tonight I make a transit to the Senseki Line at Sendai Station and travel to Ishinomaki for the first time since its comeback. The train itself is almost the same as the one for the Yamanote Line, but it has toilets on-board and buttons which enable passengers to open and close train doors. 今夜は復活後初めて仙台駅で仙石線にトランジットし、石巻へ向かう。列車そのものは山手線の車両とほとんど同じだが、車内にはトイレがついていて、乗客はボタンを使って乗降用のドアを開閉することができる。 Arrived at Ishinomaki Station in a festive mood with tanabata ornaments. 七夕飾りがお祭りムードを出している石巻駅に到着。

Going to Ishinomaki Stand Up Week 2015 on an evening Yamabiko train. 夜のやまびこで 石巻Stand Up Week 2015 へ。 As I expected, I could have the whole car to myself. 期待していた通り、一両貸切状態。