Saving the Mill: The Amazing Recovery of One of Japan's Largest Paper Mills Following the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami

by Ryoko Sasa, Tony Gonzalez (Translator)

On March 11, 2011, one of the largest earthquakes in human history struck offshore of northeast Japan, triggering a massive tsunami that devastated surrounding coastal areas. One of the many victims of this epic disaster was Nippon Paper Industries' Ishinomaki Paper Mill, which was so flooded and covered in debris that it was completely shut down. NPI provided around 40% of the paper used by Japan's publishing industry and its Ishinomaki mill -- home to one of the largest paper machines in the world -- was its core production facility. Loss of this plant would have been a devastating blow. When the factory's leader Hiromi Kurata announced that the mill would be producing paper again in just six months, few believed him. The city of Ishinomaki still had no power, no gas, and no water. Even finding food and shelter was a challenge for many, and the plant was so covered in debris that large parts were still inaccessible. Even so, the burden of saving their company, their city, and even the Japanese publishing industry had been placed on the shoulders of the mill's employees. Their story is a monument to the indomitable spirit of the Japanese worker.

201 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very moving and heartwarming story about how employees of a paper mill survived the 2011 Tohoku tsunami, and how they came together as one big team to save the flooded mill from destruction. The incredible dedication of the workers, nearly all of whom lost family members, is a testament to Japanese moral values and it's hard to read it without tearing up. This is a simple read written at middle school level and would be great for teaching grammar school students about disaster relief or Japanese society.