It's Day 2 in Tohoku!

Yesterday, we left the town of Iwate-machi

and headed east, heading for the coast of north Japan.

[TOHOKU: 6 Years After the Quake]

When I first found out we were coming here

I have to admit, I was little nervous to see what it would be like.

But, it's since years since then (the Tsunami)

and I'm excited to see how the towns

have begun to rebuild

Our first stop is Koishihama,

a bay that is famous for its scallops!

Today we're meeting a fishmerman who works here.

("Don't forget to put on your life jacket!")

So for today's scallops I was thinking...

there are some about 4 - 5 cm's wide

then there are some about one year older than that

then we'll see the next batch, another year older.

Those are the one's we're actually farming now.

We'll try and pick a few

then I thought maybe,

you might want to try a taste?

Really?! Wow!

I'm excited to try!

Morning guys!

We are actually on a boat right now

doing something a little different.

Yesterday we ate the bento box

that had scallops inside of it

but today we're actually going fishing for scallops!

Out here in the ocean!

The only thing is that

Six years ago the tsunami hit here

and there was a huge disaster

but there are still so many people who are

working hard to rebuild the area.

So we're meeting with a fisherman today

to talk about how he's still getting the best scallops

and so come along!

Let's see how it goes!

Morning, Charly!!

So, first he showed us the smaller scallops.

(They're so cute and pretty!)

then he showed us the ones that are a year older.

( " THESE ARE SCALLOPS?! ")

and then the next level up were ready to eat!

Very ready to eat...

Oh my gosh...

the rawest, freshest scallops in my life!

Here I go!

TASTY!!

What is this high-end breakfast!?!?

That is probably the most delicious scallop or seafood

that I'll probably have for a long time!

This is ridiculous!

That was a delicious scallop. Right, Charly?

Yeah it was amazing!

Best scallop ever!

On this train line they also have tours

so if you want to try and you're into scallops

(AND I KNOW YOU ARE )

If you're into scallops

then you should definitely come over here!!

He told us a story,

about the day he was out fishing

when the earthquake and tsunami came.

But it only took him about half a year

to get going and start working again.

I'm just kind of taking it all in... bit by bit.

What they're slowly showing us today

is a lot of the places that were really affected by

the earthquake and tsunami that happened

in 2011.

So this place up here that we're seeing

is one of the ruins

that's still left standing.

I've never been anywhere near here before.

All of this is really a first look for me.

So, let's go take a first look together.

That sign over there

it points how far up the Tsunami actually hit.

The 15.1 meters

You can see there are cars going by

but all of that was under water.

RIKUZENTAKATA is the name of the town where we are.

This is where we are.

The station completly disappeared.

"We will not forget: the tsunami that attacked our city"

There are a few abandoned reminders

and signposts showing how high the Tsunami struck [14.5 meters, up to the 5th floor ]

even standing here and looking at these images

it's really hard to imagine what it was like to be there.

The first time I ever heard of this region, "TOHOKU"

was 6 years ago. "TOHOKU DAISHINSAI"

"GREAT EAST JAPAN EARTHQUAKE,"

When the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast coast.

For me, as a foreigner looking in

who never had heard of this place

Until now, "Tohoku" meant "Tragedy".

But now that I'm here and looking at things

you can see that next to almost every memory of the tragedy

there's a sign that they're rebuilding.

A lot of people say that nothings left in Tohoku anymore

but it's not that nothing's left

they're actually building everything.

The earth that we're standing on right now, they built this!

There's a hotel back there, and they just built that!

The earth and the walls are being built higher and safer

This is a model but, this was a mountain.

But they broke down the mountain

and built a conveyor built bridge

that takes the sand and earth over to these parts.

Because one of the ways that they're rebuilding

is reinforcing by making the land higher.

So that if there were another Tsunami in the future

people can be at a higher elevation off the sea level

and hopefully safer.

meeting with the fisherman

and made me understand more about Japan.

I feel like I have a deeper understanding of Japan now

that's more than just fun in a big city or hanging out with friends

People live here. These are their lives!

I feel like I got to take part in that a little bit.

So, I'm really glad I came.

Before the day was out, we visited a local chef

who hand-delivered meals to people in the area who lost their homes.

Six years later, he's still uniting people in the region

with his food!

" What's your favorite food??"

"All foods!"

"That's perfect!!"

Hello everyone, we are back!

We're trying out something special!

Turns out, there's actually an Italian restaurant in town

that's doing something a little bit different than what you expect.

As you see behind me...

There's Charly and the most wonderful Master Chef!

Cooking up some Italian food

Using only the best food that was caught around here.

Scallops look familiar??

Some local winter spinach!

3x more nutritious than summer spinach!

White wine!

Oh my gosh, the food just came!!

It smells so good!

It looks so good!

Wowwww!!

Thanks! (In french, to Charly)

Fresh wakame seaplant, perfectly in season!

This spinach is SERIOUSLY delicious!

Everything is so good!

The wakame is raw! I just added it at the end!

It's raw and fresh!

It's GOOD!

Here in "sanriku", along the coast

is the region that was most hit by the Tsunami

and chef here uses all the vegetables

and all the products from the sea, from there!

So, this is really neat!!

While we were eating he told us more stories about how he volunteered.

But he also shared one special word for us to take home with us.

"GANBAPPESHI!"

GANBAPPESHI!!!

It's different from plainly saying 'GANBARE'

because "GANBAPPESHI"

implies "together"

To say "we can overcome, together!" you say

not "ganbare" or "ganbatte"

here, we say "GANBAPPESHI"

Tohoku, six years later.

When you visit the area, and meet the people there

you can see that they're literally moving mountains.

They're going to build new homes over there.

They work together, help to grow and eat together

they're building together

something strong and new.

There's a tree in this region, called the Miracle,

the last pine tree left standing after the disaster.

It's one of the tallest things you could see in the city

and now they're beginning to build around it

For more details about the changes in the Tohoku region

and about things you can do if you visit there

check the link in the description below this video.

It was such an eye-opening experience

and I'm so grateful for the chance to come here.

So, until next time...

To the people along the coast of Tohoku

GANBAPPESHI!!!