Nikkei Film: After Japan earthquake, fishermen in Noto fear the future

KANAZAWA, Japan -- More than 14,000 people remain evacuated from homes and businesses in the Noto Peninsula as of Feb. 1, one month after a magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck the area in central Japan. Survivors of the quake, which killed 240 people, are struggling to rebuild their lives while facing problems finding fresh food due to supply chain disruptions, as roads remain cut off.

The force of the earthquake caused the seabed to rise near Noto, stranding port facilities on new land far from the ocean. Fishermen are worried that the port may be permanently closed and that they will have to give up fishing.

The tragedy has highlighted the challenges of reconstruction and disaster prevention in depopulated areas with aging populations. Nikkei went to the affected area one month after the earthquake to view the devastation and recovery efforts.