Ten California High School Students Visit Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures

From July 30 to August 3, through the Kibou for LA program, ten high school students from California visited Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures. The program was designed for students from Altadena and Pasadena, California, who were affected by the Eaton Fire in January 2025, to experience and learn firsthand about the recovery and revitalization efforts in the areas impacted by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011.

 

The participants visited the Miyagi Prefectural Government Office, where they received words of encouragement from Vice Governor Ito. They also toured the 3.11 Higashi-Matsushima Earthquake Recovery Memorial Museum, where they learned about the extensive damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami, the immediate recovery efforts, and the ongoing long-term reconstruction plans. At the Higashi-Matsushima City disaster prevention storage facility, they studied the community’s advanced disaster preparedness initiatives. Allison Campos commented, “A warehouse like this would have been super helpful for our communities during the fire.” At a Japan Self-Defense Force base, they observed an aerobatic training session by the Blue Impulse flight team and learned about the JSDF’s disaster relief activities carried out by highly trained rescue teams.

 

In Ofunato High School, the group met with students who had experienced the Ofunato Fire—Iwate Prefecture’s largest forest fire in 2025. The exchange, while involving the sharing of experiences of fear and loss, also became a heartwarming gathering filled with smiles and laughter.
Through the program, the participants gained a strong resolve and deep insight into recovery and reconstruction following the Eaton Fire. As they deepened their understanding of the shared experiences and challenges between Tohoku and California, their commitment to supporting their communities became even stronger. Their journey stands as a symbol not only of resilience, but also of the strengthening bonds between the two nations and many communities dedicated to recovery, unity, and mutual understanding.