A place for sharing experiences of the Great East Japan Earthquake, reflecting on, and talking about “what is nature” and “what it means to live.”

We were forced to learn
the terrible might of tsunamis,
how difficult it is to protect lives,
the sorrow of sudden loss,

and the joy of being there for one another and standing strong in the face of adversity to continue living on.

The MINAMISANRIKU 311 Memorial is a space for everyone to listen to the town’s residents, self-reflect through memories of natural disasters, discuss, and learn from each other.

This small seaside town is a place to reflect on what it means to live in harmony with nature.
Start your journey of reflection here.

Mission

  • LEARNING

    The MINAMISANRIKU 311 Memorial is home to a small theater. There, you can watch the firsthand accounts of town residents, think about what you would have done in the same situations, and discuss your thoughts with the people around you. In that principal component of the MINAMISANRIKU 311 Memorial, you will be a part of collective learning about natural disasters from your own perspective.

  • ARCHIVES

    The MINAMISANRIKU 311 Memorial continues to collect residents’ firsthand accounts, photographs, and videos of the disaster. In addition to preserving these memories, the Memorial creates new exhibits and learning programs with these materials.

  • FIELDWORK

    The MINAMISANRIKU 311 Memorial has an area featuring artworks where visitors can gaze into the memories of the Great East Japan Earthquake with the eyes of their hearts. It is a place for quietly reflecting on the meaning of nature, humanity, and life. Additionally, the Memorial also offers visitors the option to join tours where they can visit areas near the museum that have preserved memories of the disaster, as well as diverse educational workshops.

Learning Programs

“If I were in the same situation, how would I make decisions and act?” In the Learning Theater, visitors watch videos of firsthand accounts of town residents and discuss with the people around them about how they would make decisions and act if they were faced with similar circumstances. The programs offer visitors an opportunity to gain a fresh understanding of disaster prevention.

All Programs