For over three decades, the Yuriage Public Market in Natori City was a hub of trade and a draw for tourists. Its success came to an abrupt halt with the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. The Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project, with a $4.8 million grant, was dedicated to restoring the market. By 2013, after concerted efforts and collaboration with a global consortium that included architects, engineers, and wood manufacturers like Mercer Mass Timber, the market’s restoration was complete.
Today, the Yuriage Public Market is revitalized with two main structures and serves as a critical hub for the area’s farmers, fishermen, and traders. The revival of the market has reinvigorated the local economy and aided the community’s continued prosperity.
The reconstruction was underscored by a robust partnership between Japan and Canada, utilizing Canadian lumber and advanced 2×4 construction techniques.
