Namie Town
Namie, a town deeply affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, has been on a path to recovery, shaped by the needs and voices of its residents. Our approach focused on three key pillars—mobility, energy, and community—providing concrete solutions to region-specific challenges.
One of the most pressing concerns was transportation. With shifting demands during nighttime and local events, a flexible mobility service was introduced. This on-demand rideshare system ensures that both residents and visitors can move conveniently, whether for daily commutes or special gatherings. Additionally, in areas where homes are widely dispersed, children often faced difficulties accessing schools and extracurricular activities. To ease this burden on families, we established dedicated transportation services, offering children safe and reliable travel options while giving parents peace of mind.
Energy sustainability was another priority. By integrating electric vehicles (EVs) with an intelligent energy management system powered by artificial intelligence (AI), we maximized the use of renewable energy. These EVs were not only a mode of transport but also a critical resource in emergencies.
Residents were trained to manage evacuation centres using EVs, ensuring a secure power supply during crises. Charging stations were carefully managed based on energy demand and the availability of renewable resources, reinforcing the town’s commitment to carbon neutrality.
Community revitalization was equally essential. To rebuild the social fabric lost after the disaster, we established the Hamadori Regional Design Center Namie. This space serves as a hub for regional regeneration, bringing people together to foster connections and new opportunities.
One of its key initiatives is the annual Summit event, which commemorates the earthquake, shares stories of recovery, and engages both national and prefectural leaders, as well as the media, to raise awareness and support.
Today, Namie’s streets are filled with movement and renewed energy. The on-demand mobility service runs daily, the design centre buzzes with activity, and renewable energy powers both homes and emergency response efforts. What was once a town marked by disaster has become a place where innovation and resilience shape everyday life.
Challenge & Context
The town of Namie faced unprecedented challenges following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. The disaster caused widespread destruction, severely damaging infrastructure, homes, and essential public services. The tsunami and subsequent nuclear accident forced residents to evacuate, leaving the town nearly deserted for years. Businesses closed, schools shut down, and the once-thriving community was left in disarray.
As time passed, the prolonged evacuation led to a significant population decline. Many former residents chose not to return, citing concerns over safety, lack of economic opportunities, and the disruption of their lives elsewhere.
The aging demographic further intensified the challenge, as younger generations relocated permanently to urban areas in search of stability and employment.
With essential services struggling to resume operations and the local economy in decline, Namie faced a critical need to rebuild its community and infrastructure. The town had to address transportation issues, energy sustainability, and social revitalization while dealing with the psychological and economic scars left by the disaster. The challenge was not only to reconstruct buildings but also to restore a sense of community, ensuring a future for those who remained and those willing to return.
Solution Proposed
Namie, a town affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, is focused on reconstruction and revitalization in three areas: mobility, energy, and community development.
Mobility: A sustainable solution goes beyond just providing a mobility service. A digital mobility platform was developed to enhance convenience for residents and visitors while easing administrative burdens. This initiative complements existing local transportation services and sources drivers from local providers, ensuring economic benefits remain within the community.
Energy: Achieving both carbon neutrality and energy resilience required innovative solutions. Two key strategies were implemented:
An intelligent energy management system utilizing electric vehicles (EVs) and artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize renewable energy use and minimize costs.
Training programs to educate residents on using EVs as mobile energy sources during emergencies, enhancing disaster preparedness and fostering community resilience.
Community: The Hamadori Regional Design Center Namie was established to support community revitalization through collaboration with academia, particularly the University of Tokyo. The centre facilitates local events, projects, and educational initiatives while developing sustainable mechanisms to address regional challenges.
Impact
The revitalization of the region was achieved through targeted actions in mobility, energy, and community engagement, with notable impacts extending to other areas facing similar challenges, such as Yanaizu Town in Fukushima.
Mobility:
The implementation of an on-demand mobility service led to an average of 30 daily users under normal conditions.
During local events, this number increased to 103 trips per day through flexible operations aligned with event schedules. A digital mobility platform enabled efficient management with a single controller, optimizing resource utilization. Promotional efforts by local authorities and media resulted in 1,820 registered users, nearly matching the town’s resident population of 2,103. The introduction of bus stops within a one-minute walk significantly enhanced accessibility.
Energy:
Sustainable energy use was advanced by achieving a 100% renewable energy supply at the Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Station), an important community hub, improving upon the previous 61% ratio. Electricity costs at the facility were reduced by approximately 300 euros per month. Additionally, emergency drills utilizing electric vehicles (EVs) demonstrated their effectiveness in powering evacuation centres and providing emergency food preparation capabilities.
Community:
The establishment of the Regional Design Center facilitated community rebuilding, welcoming approximately 5,000 visitors in one year. The centre attracted diverse stakeholders, including government officials, academics, prospective residents, and local citizens. It hosted educational programs, such as disaster geography clubs and smartphone literacy workshops, benefiting a wide demographic.
Conversations held at the centre led to the initiation of local projects, including study support for middle school students and historical heritage preservation. Events like the Bustle Market and Nissan Festival drew approximately 1,000 and 3,000 attendees, respectively, reinforcing community cohesion and economic activity.