Shinminato Fishing Port: A Treasure of Toyama Prefecture
Shinminato Fishing Port, located in Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture, is a picturesque port town facing the Sea of Japan. This area is renowned for its seafood, particularly firefly squid, white shrimp, and, most famously, winter yellowtail (Kanburi). These fish are well-known throughout Japan for their exceptional quality, with the rich, flavorful winter yellowtail standing out as a premium brand. At TAKEDA, we proudly incorporate seafood from this port into our dishes, which we will highlight in a future blog post.
A New Year’s Celebration Turned to Tragedy
Today, however, we want to share a different story—a tragic event that occurred this past New Year’s Day in the hometown of Chef Takeda’s partner.
In Japan, January 1st is a significant holiday known as “Oshogatsu,” where families and friends gather to celebrate the New Year by visiting shrines (hatsumode), enjoying special dishes called “osechi,” and drinking sake in a joyful atmosphere. However, at around 4 PM on January 1st this year, a powerful earthquake struck this peaceful region. The earthquake, with its epicenter off the coast of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, registered a maximum intensity of 7 on the Japanese seismic scale. Even in Toyama Prefecture, strong tremors measuring 5+ were felt in seven cities and towns. An intensity of 5+ on this scale indicates severe shaking that makes it difficult for adults to remain standing.
Chaos and Fear in the Aftermath
Alarms blared throughout the city, and local fire brigades urgently broadcasted messages: “Everyone, please evacuate! A tsunami is coming!” The sudden earthquake and tsunami warnings threw the small town into chaos.
Chef Takeda’s partner’s brother tried to evacuate with their elderly parents by car, but the town was already engulfed in traffic jams as everyone rushed to higher ground. After driving about 15 kilometers, they realized they could go no further and decided to spend the night in their car in a large mall parking lot. Fortunately, they were able to return home safely the next day, but aftershocks continued for several days.
Recovery Efforts Continue
As of August, the region is still in the process of recovery. Many homes remain damaged, and full reconstruction will take time. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this disaster.
