Winter School on Disasters and Memory (2024/2/26 - 3/2)

The second day of the Winter School program began with a visit to the designated disaster heritage site Kadonowaki Elementary School in Ishinomaki, where the group engaged in discussions with director Richard Halberstadt, gaining insights into the recovery of Ishinomaki City and the background of turning the school into a memorial. [...] Afterward, the participants proceeded to the NEWSee museum, learning about the “wall newspaper” (kabe shinbun) that was handwritten every day on large sheets of paper and distributed to the shelters to ensure access to correct information in the direct aftermath of the disaster. [...] In the afternoon, the group learned about the influence of repeating disasters on local culture through a Kataribe and Kiriko experience with Mayumi Kudo, enriching participants' understanding of traditional rituals and community resilience. [...] Participants departed for the GEJE and Nuclear Disaster Museum for an observation of the exhibition, gaining critical insights into the impacts of nuclear disasters on communities and the environment. [...] Overall, the Winter School on Disaster and Memory provided a platform for interdisciplinary learning, collaboration, and reflection, highlighting the importance of memory in understanding and addressing the complexities of disaster management and recovery.