A Chicago-based commemoration project for the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, remembering the victims of disaster and documenting the region's recovery.
About the Kizuna Project Archive (English)
Who are we?
311KizunaChicago is an archival website dedicated to the conservation and collection of photos of The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and related events. The goal of this website is to ensure the continued existence and remembrance of the collective experience of this tragic event.
What is the Kizuna Project?
The Kizuna project was founded in 2011 by Yoko Noge Dean, then Chair of the Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International (CSCI), to raise awareness for the March 11th, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that deeply affected the Tohoku region of Japan. You can learn more about Noge Dean, who is also a journalist and blues/jazz musician, and her story, in a recent interview here.
From 2011-2020, the Kizuna project documented the devastation and recovery of the Tohoku region by means of yearly photo exhibitions held in Chicago. Each year, these exhibitions were presented under meaningful themes that captured changes in the region over time. These are the themes presented over the past 10 years:
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絆Kizuna 1/2 (2012-2013): The Bonds of Emotion
絆Kizuna 3: (2014): Unbroken Circle
絆Kizuna 4 (2015): Through Our Eyes
絆Kizuna 5 (2016): Voices of the Youth
絆Kizuna 6 (2017): Resilience
絆Kizuna 7 (2018): Women in Tohoku
絆Kizuna 8: (2019): Artisans of Tohoku
絆Kizuna 9 (2020): Memory
絆Kizuna 10 (2021): Life (commemoration ceremony only, view here)
This project developed as a result of the collaboration between the Osaka Committee of CSCI, the Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago, Japan America Society of Chicago, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chicago, and Japan External Trade Organization​ Chicago Office.
Kizuna was designed to promote healing and connection to people affected by this tragedy, directly or indirectly. The project is divided into three parts: the photo exhibition, the commemoration ceremony and reception, and the economic seminar and reception. Each year the Kizuna project has a different theme to recognize and emphasize the various aspects and updates that arise each year. For example, Kizuna 2012’s theme was “The Bonds of Emotion,” which focused on the immediate responses to the catastrophe and the various ways people across the globe offered support to those affected.
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At the the Kizuna 8 commemoration ceremony, 2019.
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(left to right)
Ella McCann (Chicago Sister Cities), Hiromi Fukasawa-Lindquist, Anel Montes Marchan, Mayumi Lake (Photographer for Kizuna 8), Kimiyo Naka (Chair of the Osaka Committee), Consul General Naoki Ito, Noriyuki Kamiyama (featured in photo exhibition), Yoko Noge Dean (Project Founder), Lisa Kohnke (Mayor Emanuel's Office), Sean Rapelya (Gov. Pritzkers office), Anne Shimojima, Leroy Allala (Chicago Sister Cities), and Reiko Takahashi.
How does this archive work?
This archive lets the viewers experience past years of Kizuna through images, articles, and interviews with various photographers of previous years. This gives viewers a taste of the effort and passion behind those involved in this project. The archive is made to be reflective, meaningful, and ultimately searchable for anyone interested in learning more about the The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and the Kizuna project.
For more information about the Kizuna project, visit the Chicago Sister Cities International website