Makinohara tornado recovery reaches 60% one year later

Nearly one year after a massive tornado struck Makinohara City and Yoshida Town in Shizuoka Prefecture, recovery efforts are estimated to be approximately 60% complete. The tornado, which occurred in September 2025, recorded wind speeds of approximately 75 meters per second and caused significant damage, including one death, 89 injuries, and over 1,700 damaged buildings.

Makinohara Mayor Motoharu Sugimoto noted that while disaster response manuals have been updated, progress in public demolition of damaged structures has been slow. A primary obstacle is the requirement for residents to personally remove all household appliances and belongings before public demolition can begin. Currently, 70 households remain in temporary housing, with a one-year deadline approaching.

On an individual level, some residents are finding ways to rebuild through community support. Yasuyuki Sugiyama, a strawberry farmer who lost 80% of his cultivation area, is working to reconstruct disaster-resilient greenhouses. His recovery has been aided by social media outreach and a crowdfunding campaign that raised 3.4 million yen, highlighting the role of digital connectivity in modern disaster mutual aid.