奥おく能登のと地域ちいきの4自治体じちたい 去年きょねん1月つきからの1年ねん2か月かげつで人口じんこう9.3％減少げんしょう

In the four municipalities of the Oku-Noto region in Ishikawa Prefecture, which were affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake and the heavy rain in September last year, the population decreased over the one year and two months from January to March 1 of last year when the earthquake occurred.

It was revealed in the prefectures summary based on city and town resident registrations that there was a 3% decrease.

<br>We have summarized the movements in the Oku-Noto region 1 year and 3 months after the earthquake.

<br>Total number of people moving out from 4 cities and towns: 4,565; Total number of people moving in: 1,180<br>Every month, Ishikawa Prefecture publishes population data for each city and town based on resident registration, and has released the data as of March 1.

According to that, the number of people who moved out of the four cities and towns in the Oku-Noto region affected by earthquakes and heavy rain was a total of 4,565 over a period of one year and two months from January 1st last year when the earthquake occurred.

<br><br>The number of people who moved out by municipality is as follows:<br>▽ Wajima City: 2,131 people,<br>▽ Suzu City: 1,126 people,<br>▽ Noto Town: 826 people,<br>▽ Anamizu Town: 482 people.

<br><br>On the other hand, the number of people moving in during this period is 1,180 across the four cities and towns, which is only about a quarter of the number of people moving out.

As of March 1st, the estimated population of the Oku-Noto region is 50,064 people, which is 5,149 fewer than the 55,213 people as of January 1st last year, a decrease of 9%.

Decreased by 3%

<br><br>In the disaster-stricken areas, the movement of people leaving their hometowns for other regions continues.

<br>To strengthen the disaster response system following the Noto Peninsula earthquake in January last year and the heavy rain disaster in September, Ishikawa Prefecture established a Crisis Management Department on the 1st.<br>

The new fiscal years appointment ceremony held at the Ishikawa Prefectural Office saw Governor Hase handing over the appointment letter to Junichi Takezawa, the head of the newly established Crisis Management Department.

<br><br>The Crisis Management Department is a reorganization of the former Crisis Management Office, with 71 staff members and two divisions: the Crisis Response Division and the Fire Safety Division.

<br>We will increase the number of former Self-Defense Forces personnel by one from last year to two, strengthening the cooperation system with related agencies in the event of a disaster. Additionally, we plan to appoint a former fire chief from the Kanazawa City Fire Department as a Fire and Disaster Prevention Specialist to also strengthen cooperation with fire organizations both inside and outside the prefecture.

After the ceremony, Director Takezawa said, Ensuring the safety and security of the lives of the citizens is a fundamental responsibility of our administration, so we want to stay vigilant and work diligently.

<br>Governor Hase to senior officials: Stand by the victims and work towards reconstruction<br>On the 1st, Governor Hase of Ishikawa Prefecture delivered the first address of the fiscal year to approximately 150 senior officials at the prefectural office.

In this, Governor Hase said, I want to stand at the forefront with everyone and work towards creative reconstruction.

It is important to have the awareness of connecting with each and every resident, he stated, reiterating his intention to support the victims and advance the recovery efforts.

<br>Additionally, it was emphasized that increasing the so-called related population, who are deeply involved with the region by visiting regularly even if they do not live there, is important. It was also stated, We hope that prefectural employees will share information with each other and make bold decisions, calling for active efforts towards the recovery of disaster-affected areas and regional revitalization.

<br>Wajima City New Recruits Receive Appointment Letters, Determined for Reconstruction<br>In Wajima City this fiscal year, 17 employees aged 18 to 48 were hired, and they received their appointment letters from Mayor Shigeru Sakaguchi at the appointment ceremony held at the city hall on the 1st.

<br><br>Representing the new staff, Haruhito Kinoshita 18, who graduated from Monzen High School in Wajima City and was assigned to the Monzen General Branch, expressed his determination towards reconstruction, stating, I believe there are many challenges due to the impact of the earthquake, but I want to work with a sense of mission to create a better Wajima City.

<br><br>Mayor Sakaguchi encouraged by saying, Dont forget your original intentions, and use the power of youth for recovery and reconstruction.

According to the city, a total of 76 staff members have taken early retirement due to reasons such as being affected by the earthquake and the increased workload from disaster response, making securing personnel a challenge.

<br><br>Ms. Kiyoka Kasahara, who was assigned to the Citizens Section, said, I decided to join the office because I wanted to be involved in the reconstruction after the earthquake occurred in Wajima, where I have lived all my life.

I want to work hard to be close to the citizens and catch up with my senior colleagues as soon as possible, they said.

After being assigned to the Regional Promotion Division at the Monzen General Branch Office, Mr. Kinoshita greeted his superiors and senior staff at the workplace and then received an explanation about his duties.

The reason I wanted to work in Wajima City was the volunteer activities after the heavy rain disaster last September.

Kinoshita-san was a member of the baseball team at a city high school at the time, and together with his teammates, he used shovels and other tools to remove the large amount of mud that had flowed into the temporary housing where the victims of the Noto Peninsula earthquake were living.

At that time, an elderly victim expressed their gratitude by saying thank you, which made me realize that I can help others through my actions, and it strengthened my desire to work for the disaster-stricken areas and people affected by the disaster.

<br><br>Many residents have had a hard time due to earthquakes and heavy rain, says Mr. Kinoshita

I want to quickly learn my job and approach it without forgetting my initial motivation, they said.

<br>Order of Appointment Ceremony at the Fire Department Covering the Oku-Noto Region<br>At the Order of Appointment Ceremony for the Oku-Noto Regional Office Association Fire Department which covers four cities and towns in the Oku-Noto region, 10 newly hired individuals aged 18 to 23 attended.

<br><br>At the ceremony, after each person was handed a letter of appointment, Fire Chief Ryoji Yamagai instructed, Please thoroughly learn firefighting techniques and knowledge through future training,

<br><br>After receiving approximately six months of training at a fire academy in Kanazawa City, the 10 individuals will engage in rescue activities at the scenes of traffic accidents, fires, and disasters.

The Noto Peninsula Wide Area Office Fire Department has had retirees following the Noto Peninsula earthquake, and is reviewing operations to ensure the number of firefighters available for dispatch.

<br>The newly hired Yuma Sawamura said, I was inspired by the sight of firefighters working during last years Noto Peninsula earthquake.

I want to take responsibility for my actions and become a respected firefighter, they said.