Supporting Disaster Victims and Rebuilding Communities: A Case Study of Collaboration After the Great East Japan Earthquake

Futaba-machi in Fukushima Prefecture was designated as a difficult-to-return area due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear accident of 2011. As of February 2026, approximately 24 310 people remained evacuated. This case study describes the activities of a cooking class held in collaboration between The Ajinomoto Foundation (TAF) and Futaba-machi and how it contributed to (1) revitalizing communities in the disaster-affected areas as well as places to which evacuees relocated and (2) improving the dietary habits of disaster victims. The project's activities were organized into a logic model by TAF staff and the evaluation team. Based on a logic model, residents involved in the project, Futaba-machi public health nurses, TAF, and researchers summarized how the project supported disaster victims and rebuilt the community. We used evaluation reports, records of project activities, and interview data for analysis. To deploy the project in the community, public health nurses coordinated with the neighborhood association and related organizations. To address issues such as resident isolation and health and dietary problems among older adult residents, organizers developed a concrete implementation plan with long-term outcomes in mind. The cooking classes, centered on the "cook together and eat together" theme, strengthened connections among participants. Collaboration was sought in other activities (eg, of the neighborhood association), thus deepening bonds among participants. Furthermore, sharing meals naturally created a space for conversation, encouraged participants to vocalize their feelings, and provided a place for emotional nourishment. Building on the insights gained from this project, we will continue to address community challenges and conduct similar analyses, including additional case studies, for application to other regions.