One Year After the Noto Earthquake: Ishikawa's Road to Recovery

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A year has passed since the devastating Noto Peninsula Earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture, which left around 500 people either dead or missing. The disaster inflicted unprecedented damage on the region, but JAPAN Forward's visit to the affected areas revealed the remarkable resilience and determination of Ishikawa's residents.

What became clear during our visit was the strength, resilience, and hope of the people of Ishikawa, who refused to be defeated by the disaster. However, the residents still need comprehensive support to ensure that no one is left behind in the recovery efforts.

January 1, 2025, was the earthquake's first anniversary. Charcoal craftsman Choichiro Ono observed a moment of silence with his family in Suzu City, one of the hardest-hit areas in Ishikawa Prefecture.

"I have mixed feelings. Some people are finding it hard to envision their future," he shared.

*Ono resuming reforestation efforts after the disaster (left) and a fissure in the factory floor. (Courtesy of Choichiro Ono)*

Grappling with Multiple Challenges

Ono leads the charcoal production company Notohahaso. He has worked to preserve the satoyama's natural resources and revitalize the local community through reforestation and charcoal-making. However, the earthquake a year ago completely destroyed four of his kilns. It was the third time an earthquake had damaged his facility.

Although he felt on the verge of giving up, Ono is pushing forward toward recovery. He has launched a crowdfunding campaign to replace the kilns with durable metal ones to increase productivity and relocate his factory to a safer location, away from landslide-prone areas.

"Our community was already grappling with an aging population and depopulation," Ono explained. "Now, we've faced multiple disasters — earthquakes and torrential rains. While reconstruction is underway, with damaged homes being demolished, people are still leaving. Will there be no one left in this place?"

Restoring the Crested Ibis to Noto's Skies

In September 2024, JAPAN Forward visited Ishikawa to document recovery efforts ahead of the release of the crested ibis, a special natural monument of Japan.

However, torrential rains, described as a once-in-a-century event, hit the region on the day of our visit. Forced to evacuate before meeting Ono, we later received a message from him that carried profound weight.

"I want to tell the government this: We, in rural areas, have long supported urban centers through primary industries. In this region, already burdened with challenges like aging and depopulation, we need a clear signal—a guidepost for rebuilding our lives beyond the restoration of basic necessities—that it's okay for us to live here."

Ishikawa Prefecture was once home to the last wild crested ibises on Honshu. To protect the dwindling population, the government relocated the remaining birds to Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture. Despite these efforts, Japan's native crested ibis went extinct in 2003.

*A crested ibis soars in the skies of Sado. The day it flies in the skies of Ishikawa is not far off. (Photo by Fumie Oyama*)

Community-Driven Conservation

Since then, ibises gifted by China have been bred and reintroduced into the wild, with Sado Island becoming Japan's sole successful site for reintroducing the species. Today, the population has grown to approximately 500. The government now aims to expand the release program to Japan's main island of Honshu, with Ishikawa as a candidate.

The extinction of the crested ibis in Japan was caused by a combination of factors, including pesticide use and environmental degradation. These issues severely reduced the insects and other small animals the birds relied on for food.

Successfully reintroducing the species requires restoring a suitable habitat, including reducing pesticide use. In Noto, rice paddies maintained by local farmers as part of these efforts were damaged in the recent earthquake. However, none of the affected communities abandoned the shared goal of reintroducing the crested ibis, and conservation work continues.

A Lifetime of Dedication

During our visit, we stopped by the home of Yoshio Muramoto in Hakui City, Ishikawa. Muramoto has dedicated 72 years to bringing the crested ibis back to Ishikawa. He will turn 100 on April 26 and remains deeply passionate about the cause.

*Muramoto dreams of seeing the crested ibis soar through Ishikawa’s skies again. (©JAPAN Forward by Mika Sugiura)*

Muramoto and my parents share the same hometown. About 15 years ago, I visited Ishikawa with my parents and interviewed Muramoto about his conservation work, making this visit a long-awaited reunion. Since then, Muramoto has privately funded a crested ibis museum on his property to help children learn about the environment these birds need to thrive.

"I want to witness the day when the crested ibis soars once again through Noto's skies with my own eyes," he said.

During our visit, we also stopped by Torii Shouyu, a soy sauce shop in Nanao City with a history spanning nearly 100 years. Although the workshop sustained damage, they were encouraged by local customers eagerly awaiting their handmade soy sauce. In December 2024, they reignited the kiln used to steam soybeans and fully resumed production.

"It's important to keep our livelihood going," said owner Masako Torii. "Buying soybeans for soy sauce from farmers in Suzu also supports the region."

Taizo Shibano, owner of Malga Gelato in Noto Town, recognized as the "World's Best Gelato Artisan," also exemplifies this resilience. In October 2024, he represented Japan in the Gelato World Cup Asia Qualifiers in Singapore, where he won first place.

"My creations use Noto's salt. Recovery is still underway, but as someone from this area, I want to win Asia's first gold medal in the finals in Italy in 2026," he said.

A Centenarian's Dream

Noto, hit hard by both earthquakes and torrential rains, is also the birthplace of my parents. Perhaps due to the harsh winters, people in Hokuriku are known for their resilience. Everyone we interviewed, despite the severe hardships they've faced, shared their recovery efforts with a steadfast will to endure.

*Muramoto sees off the JAPAN Forward team at his crested ibis museum after the interview. (©JAPAN Forward by Mika Sugiura)*

Muramoto submitted a waka (a traditional Japanese poem) to the Imperial Household's 2025 New Year Waka Reading. The theme for this year is "Dream." Although his poem was not selected, Muramoto plans to share it with children.

"There have been many challenges, but I want to entrust my dreams to the ibis and to the children," he said.

We have a great responsibility in realizing Muramoto's dream of advancing the recovery of Ishikawa.

Follow our special New Year's series, Predictions 2025.