Businesses Struggle to Survive After Noto Peninsula Earthquake

In the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in the Noto Peninsula region of Japan, a new survey conducted by Kyodo News indicates that 70% of the shops and restaurants currently operating from temporary locations have no future plans to return to their pre-disaster sites. The survey highlights the struggles of 46 affected businesses, with nearly half citing insufficient funding as the main hurdle, especially as they face dwindling customer counts and decreasing sales following the magnitude-7.6 quake that struck Ishikawa Prefecture last New Year's Day.

The survey findings stem from in-person interviews held in early June with 64 businesses operating in makeshift facilities. Notably, more than 40% of those surveyed reported their premises were completely destroyed as a result of the earthquake. Many businesses have experienced profound drops in revenue, with 40 respondents indicating a decline in their income and 33 attributing this to a reduced customer base. Concerns regarding falling revenues and customer numbers are widespread, with 44 respondents mentioning these as their main worries, alongside 23 expressing anxiety over their ability to secure financing for future operations.

Retsuko Hirata, who runs a shop selling traditional Japanese sake and clothing in Wajima, shared her experience, revealing that her revenue has decreased by 20% since the earthquake. She voiced her fears about the sustainability of her business amid dwindling tourist numbers and a declining local population. The Noto Peninsula, known for its attractive fresh seafood, hot springs, and traditional arts like lacquerware, has historically been a draw for tourists. However, the quake not only had immediate destructive effects, claiming over 600 lives—including those lost to subsequent health complications—but also resulted in extensive property damage, with more than 160,000 houses suffering full or partial collapse across multiple prefectures.