Construction work continues in the Arahama area of Sendai. (Ryo Kato)
The Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami not only sped the population decline in many municipalities in the northwestern prefectures of Miyagi and Iwate, it sparked population growth in Sendai, a core city in the Tohoku region.
The tsunami, on top of leading to scores of fatalities along the Pacific coast, also forced many survivors to move elsewhere in search of homes and work.
“Municipalities where population decreases are accelerating need to create jobs that will attract workers to their area, and the central government should provide support for such measures," said Hiroshi Kito, president of the University of Shizuoka, an expert on population issues.