15. Wajima-nuri lacquerware
Wajima-nuri is representative high-grade lacquerware of Japan. Nothing says Japanese lacquerware like Wajima-nuri. There were many homes with Wajima-nuri workshops along the Asaichi Street. It is estimated that the earthquake left 70% of about 1000 workers related to Wajima-nuri homeless. One of the workshops has resumed the production of lacquerware in Kanazawa.
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| Wajima-nuri lacquerware Copyright: Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League |
Wajima-nuri lacquerware will be sold in some fairs.
"Wajima-nuri wo Tsunagu" is being held in KINTETSU Nara store from Feb.27.
At an event "WAJIMANOMIRAI", 600 items by 19 workshops will be on display.
March 5- Daimaru Shinsaibashi Store, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
April 10- Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store, Tokyo Prefecture
Some of the workshops have websites. Wajima Kirimoto reopened their online store on Jan.7, 2024. Taya Shikkiten has launched a crowd funding page for workers related to Wajima-nuri.
Wajima Kirimoto:
Taya Shikkiten:
16. Ama(female divers)
Ama(female divers) in Wajima City is designated as an important intangible folk-cultural property. They detach seafood such as abalone, turban shells, and seaweed called ego from the rocks under water holding their breath for 50-60 minutes. The divers do skin diving around Hegurajima island and off Wajima Port.
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| Ama around Hegurajima island Copyright: Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League |
This summer it will be hard for the divers to get seawfood in the sea of Wajima due to ground uplift and damaged facilities such as Wajima Port, boats, commercial refrigerators, and pumping machineries. They have to get a new seafloor terrain changed by ground uplift to get fertile seabed into their heads and to shirk danger.
The number of the woman divers is about 170, but the divers now 60 and older currently constitute the majority. Two-thirds of of the divers have stayed in some areas away from Wajima City. Ama throughout the country are providing support for them.
17. Suzu ware
I associate Suzu ware with Suzu City. Suzu ware was produced during the late 12th and late 15th centuries. The ware having a heritage from ancient earthen vessel was widely distributed, but it disappeared rapidly. In the 1970s, the local government and a local chamber of commerce were engaged in the reconstruction effort of Suzu ware.
Suzu Ware Museum:
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| Suzu ware Copyright: Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League |
All of the 18 pottery kilns were collapsed by the quake. Brick-built kilns are weak against earthquakes. A potter's kiln was collapsed by the earthquake in May last year. He rebuilt his kiln in October, but it collapsed again. It takes a few years for potters to restart pottery production.
Suzu City has been hit by series of earthquakes with seismic intensity 5 upper in 2007, seismic intensity 6 lower in 2022, seismic intensity 6 upper in 2023, seismic intensity 6 upper in 2024. A potter with 32 year career is contemplating retirement.
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| Suzu ware Copyright: Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League |
18. salt making
In Suzu City, some saltworks make salt by boiling down seawater by means of traditional salt-making method called Agehama-style having a more than 400-year-old history. Though the salt contains rich dietary minerals, the method takes quite a bit of work.
Since the coastline was moved distances of 100m out to sea, the facilities to pump water from the sea don't work at all. (Some saltworks draw water from the sea and move it by humans.) On Feb. 8, one of the saltworks restarted their work. They have accepted more online orders than in the past year.
19.livestock business
Many farmers raise their livestock in the area. They are struggling to water their livestock during water outage. The quake crashed or damaged some cattle barns. Some of them consider selling their livestock. One of them resumed shipments on Feb. 13.
20. agriculture
Effects on agriculture will come to the surface from now. Many paddy fields, crop fields and irrigation channel were damaged. Farmers can't let water flow to a rice field.
The rice terraces of Shiroyone Senmaida is full of cracks. They have launched a crowd funding page.
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| pre-quake Shiroyone Senmaida Copyright: Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League |
The power is out in the area around the paddy fields, but solar panels generate enough electricity to power the lights of the rice terraces now.
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| pre-quake Shiroyone Senmaida Copyright: Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League |
21. sightseeing
Kanazawa is safe. Visitors are welcomed there. However, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa will reopen entirely late June.
The number of confirmed demolished or partially destroyed accommodations rose to 88 in Ishikawa prefecture. The quake damaged 54 accommodations in Niigata, 63 in Totama, 4 in Fukui, 1 in Gifu. There was no personal damage.
THE OFFICIAL ISHIKAWA TRAVEL GUIDE by Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League:
22. Wakura Onsen
Wakura Onsen (和倉温泉) is a hot spring resort town with 22 accommodations in Nanao City. All of the accommodations are closed due to the damage caused by the quake. Some of damaged hotels accept only disaster recovery workers, but the hotels provide only rooms without meals. The workers don't have access to flush toilets, to take a bath.
They have launched a crowd funding page.
Wakura Onsen Tourism Association, Wakura Onsen hotel cooperative association:
In 2023, Kagaya in Wakura Onsen was selected as the best accommodation in Japan. They won the first prize 41 times. They advanced into Taiwan in 2010.
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| pre-quake Wakura Onsen Copyright: Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League |
23. Notojima Aquarium
Two whale sharks died of broken aquarium filtration apparatus and water leak in the Notojima Aquarium damaged by the quake. They evacuated their breeding animals to another aquaria and zoos. Japan Aquarium Association(JAA) has launched a crowd funding page for the aquarium. Japanese Association of Zoological Gardens and Aquariums(JAZA) is accepting relief money for the aquarium.
Japan Aquarium Association(JAA)(Japanese version only):
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| pre-quake Notojima Aquarium Copyright: Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League |
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| pre-quake Notojima Aquarium Copyright: Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League |
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| pre-quake Notojima Aquarium Copyright: Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League |
24. tax payment
Many evacuees who concerned about payment of income tax sent inquiries to Kanazawa Regional Taxation Bureau. The bureau issued a rare statement to set their lives back above tax payment.
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