First ‘Gathering Space’ Completed in NoroshiProject to support reconstruction from Noto Peninsula earthquake revitalizing Suzu City in Ishikawa Prefecture

As part of its support for the medium- to long-term recovery of areas of Ishikawa prefecture damaged by the earthquake and heavy rains that struck the Noto Peninsula during 2024, The Nippon Foundation has formulated a plan to build “gathering spaces” to promote interchanges among residents of the Oku Noto region, and decided to support the construction and operation of these facilities at nine locations. Construction of the first facility, Noroshi no Minna-no-Ie, was completed on July 13.

Roughly 150 people were present for the facility’s opening on July 13, including Ishikawa Prefecture Vice Governor Daisuke Asano, Suzu City Mayor Masuhiro Izumiya, The Nippon Foundation Director Mariko Akimoto, The Nippon Foundation Executive Director Hideo Sato, representatives of chief design company Klein Dytham architecture and builder Iemoto, and local residents and supporters of the Noto Peninsula.

 The ceremony to mark the facility’s completion began with a Shinto ritual to mark the facility’s opening, after which Toshio Itoya, director of the NGO Okunoto Hikirai, which will operate the facility, commented that the facility represents the fruition of support from across Japan. He noted that while there is still much to do for Noto’s recovery, he vowed to breathe life into this splendid building and to work together with the local community to rebuild the area. Ms. Akimoto noted that since the earthquake, people have been gradually returning to restaurants, fields, and the downtown area, and that seeing people living their lives with vitality reminds her of the area’s beauty. She said that she hopes that this will be a place where people will stop by and interact with each other, and that the facility will create value by leading to the creation of new ideas and passing on of traditions.

The opening ceremony was followed by the first “community cafeteria,” which is to become a regular event. Noroshi no Minna-no-Ie intends to hold these types of events for eating and drinking together and carrying out traditional activities, to provide opportunities to bring the local community together.

Gathering spaces are being successively built in the cities of Wajima and Suzu and the towns of Noto and Anamizu, with all expected to open during 2026. The Nippon Foundation views these facilities as important bases to support recovery in terms of preventing disaster-related deaths and getting people involved in the community, and will continue to support the reconstruction of the Oku Noto region in cooperation with the public and private sectors.