Kumamoto earthquake recovery efforts continue through local businesses and charity sales

Efforts to support recovery following the Kumamoto earthquake are being seen through local business resilience and charitable initiatives.

In Yatsushiro, the 150-year-old confectionery Kurokawa Seika has resumed operations after being forced to close due to the July 28 earthquake. While the shop's signature dorayaki has brought customers back, the workshop still shows damage from both the recent quake and the earthquake ten years ago, including cracked floors and damaged boiler equipment. To support those unable to make traditional sweets at home, the shop has introduced limited-edition 'Bon Dango' for the Obon season.

Simultaneously, the confectionery Kamakura Bogoya has announced a charity version of its popular 'Kurumicco' sweet to support Kumamoto's reconstruction. The limited-edition 8-piece set, featuring illustrations of Kumamoto Castle and local symbols, includes a 300 yen donation per unit toward designated Kumamoto Prefecture accounts. The initiative has gained significant traction on social media, reflecting public interest in supporting disaster-affected regions through consumer purchases.