Innovation from the Bottom Up - An Argument for Iwate's Approach

An earlier post discusses the differences between Iwate Prefecture's bottom up approach and Miyagi Prefectures nationwide-sourcing approach to recovery. That post cites Miyagi criticism of Iwate's approach. How is Iwate to come up with anything new? Ryu Matsumoto's insulting and career-killing "No smarts, no help" remark to Iwate Governor Tasso played on this criticism.

[Iwate Recovery Commission] Web navigation to recovery offices

Iwate Prefecture's website provides handy navigation to the prefecture's recovery offices. This is translated and presented below. The links all point to Japanese web pages.

• Prefecture Departments 
• Extension Organizations 
• Area Recovery Office, etc. 
• Medical Bureau 
• Industrial Bureau 
• Iwate Assembly 
• Education Committee 
• Public Safety Committee / Policy Headquarters 
• Various Committees 

Miyagi and Iwate recovery commissions - radically different planning models

Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures are next door neighbors in Tohoku and were both severely damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Including Fukushima Prefecture to the south, the coastline of the three hardest hit prefectures is home to 270 fishing harbors. All were devastated by the tsunami. To rebuild their coastlines, both prefectures created recovery commissions, but of radically different nature and operation.