Noto Earthquake Relief Fund

On New Year's Day Noto Peninsula was devastated by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake followed by tsunami, landslides, and a horrific fire in Wajima.

The extent of damage is so unthinkable that we almost don't know how to offer assistance. Getting supplies or physical aid into these coastal towns is problematic given the state of the buckled roads. Currently sea is the best route for getting into the area.

I have been going to Noto regularly since 2011 and have many friends and colleagues in the area, especially Wajima, Suzu, and Nanao. As far as I know from spotty reports, they have survived, but several have suffered huge damages or have lost their homes and businesses.

In the short term, they need food and water, but also fuel. Our local food community is making efforts to meet some of those needs as soon as we can get them into the area. My son Andrew also spends time in the area and is ready to take supplies plus offer physical assistance when the roads are passable.

In the meantime, a chef friend who lived through the Great Tohoku earthquake told us that what the people need is money to give hope that they can rebuild.

It's all so hopeless and giving people hope is what we can do. Love and support from abroad will mean a lot to these desperate people. So let's try our best!

I am reaching out to my food and artisanal community around the world. Please help us get the people in Noto some desperately needed support. I will post updates on dispersals, etc. as we go along.

Thank you so much,

Nancy Hachisu and Andrew Hachisu

Cover Photo: Major structural damage to Takazara Rousoku-ten - a traditional Japanese candle maker's shop in Nanao which I visit frequently. Posted by the owner.

Photos of the hillside, house, and workshop of Minamidani Yoshie in Wajima - an engaging young woman who makes air-dried fish, fish sauce, and preserved fish products. I brought a US film crew to her place several years ago and admired her spirit. We become pals.

Jan 3: There are frequent tremors. We can barely sleep!...

Jan 4: Thank you everyone for your warm messages. I decided not to cry but I cannot help it....In the evening I made chicken okayu and went to the evacuation center. Everyone was very grateful for the warm food. We don't have enough hot food. Snow forecast starting tomorrow. It's cold!

Jan 5: This place was everything to me. In this small factory we have a drying area with a dryer for drying Noto's best fish, and in the winter we use Noto's cold clean wind to dry them. Designed to make work easier!...An important small factory filled with our own unique passion! I have not finished paying this off. My heart hurts when I see it.

In the warehouse, there is a lot of fish that take several years to complete such as ishiru, mackerel heshiko, sardine heshiko, and blowfish heshiko, which the whole family spent many days preparing from morning until night. It will fall apart in a few hours I can't even get close to it.

(editor: the after shocks will cause the buildings and house to be swallowed up).

The house next door was built by my father, a proud house that was 50 meters from end to end on 3,000 tsubo of land. My father died four years ago and he worked so hard to protect this place. This place will be gone soon. I never thought this day would come...

But after reading all the warm messages from everyone, I will never give up! I will definitely rebuild and make delicious seafood! That's what I have been thinking. I don't know how many years it will take, but I'm sure we will come back, so please wait. Really powerful! I sincerely thank you for your encouragement. - Yoshie Minamidani

Yoshie reports that Wajima chefs Toshiya Ikehata (L'Atelier de Noto) and the chef from Orizzonte have been cooking big pots of food for people with the ingredients people have brought.

Ikehata-san is a beautiful soul and he makes equally beautiful food from the gorgeous natural ingredients around Noto. His discouragement is palpable in these words:

Jan 4: It seems that only the center of Wajima has been reported upon regarding this earthquake But the earthquake is not limited to Wajima, there are many areas such as Noto-jima and Jushu where supplies cannot reach them due to landslides, and there are also many areas where the SOS cannot be sent due to lack of electricity or internet. I would like the media to report on this as well.

Also, this is my personal opinion as someone who has been affected by the disaster, but I would like those who have not been affected to not hold back - please do your best to do what you can!

My goal was to make Noto the best tourism and food area in the world. Since we first opened ten years ago, I feel its potential even more strongly now. Due to the current situation though, we are no longer able to operate the restaurant, but we are doing what we need to do at 120%.

I also hope that Japan will not hold back and will actively pursue activities so not to lose Japan's tourism power: home to wonderful food, rich nature, and deep culture.

There are many customers who have contacted us about cancellations and given us words of encouragement. I think those customers will eat at a different restaurant. We hope that those people will come back to Japan again, say that Japanese food is wonderful, and come back again.

We have received messages of encouragement from people all over the world. Thank you very much.

I will do what I can today as well! - Toshiya Ikehata (L'Atelier de Noto)

The last photos of the aftermath of the huge Wajima fire were taken by Kohei Kirimoto and posted by his father Taichi Kirimoto from Kirimoto shops in Wajima.

I have not heard from all of my friends in Noto but here are some updates besides the ones above.

Minako Hashimoto colleague to Nakamichi-san of Wajima no kaien salt - lost her shop Noto x Noto in the Morning Market as well as her home.

Wajima no Kaien salt - seems to be ok.

Shinbashi Ryokan in Wajima - safe but suffered structural damage. Owner Kazuya Kunai: "I will definitely rebuild. Please lend me your help."

Seto Kunikatsu of Quai Gallery - uncertain. Seto Mikako lost TefuTefu shop to the Wajima morning market fire.

Ishiritei in Nanao - uncertain.

Tori Shoyu in Nanao - uncertain.

Yuyado Sakamoto in Suzu - currently unscathed but there is real danger of landslides.

Fukuda Shichirin - in Suzu - uncertain.

Ohno Charcoal - in Suzu - safe but they lack food and water. Both of his kilns (i.e. his livelihood) were completely demolished.

Fukube Kaji: knifeshop and workshop in Noto-machi - uncertain.