The Oshika Peninsula ( 牡鹿半島 , Oshika-hantō ) also pronounced "Ojika" is a peninsula which projects southeast into the Pacific Ocean from the coast of Miyagi Prefecture in northeast Honshu , the main island of Japan .
6-469: The peninsula is most often visited as the gateway to the island of Kinkasan , which can be accessed by ferries running from the coastal whaling port of Ayukawa in Ishinomaki, Miyagi and from Onagawa . The Oshika Peninsula was the closest part of Honshu to the epicenter of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake , the closest parts of its eastern coastline approximately 72 kilometers (45 mi) away, with only
12-601: A few neighboring minor islands a few kilometers closer. A report on March 14 indicated that 1,000 bodies had washed ashore on the peninsula. The March 11 earthquake shifted Oshika Peninsula by 5.3 m (17 ft) towards the epicenter and lowered it by 1.2 m (3.9 ft), according to the Geospatial Information Authority in Tsukuba . These two land mass movements are records for Japan, according to government figures. Many small hamlets along
18-652: The Samenoura bay, it was less severely damaged compared to other settlements in the bay. Kinkasan Kinkasan ( 金華山 , Kinkasan , or Kinkazan ) , is a small island in Miyagi Prefecture in north-eastern Japan . It lies in the Pacific Ocean approximately one kilometer off the Oshika Peninsula . Kinkasan is 9.5 km (3.7 sq mi) in area, and its highest point is
24-616: The coast of the peninsula, administered by Ishinomaki City , were heavily damaged. One of the hamlets affected by the tsunami was Yoriisohama ( 寄磯浜 ) located about 1 km east of the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant , on a headland comprising cliffs and small fjord-like bays on the eastern side of the Oshika Peninsula. The main settlement is in a south-facing bay on the southern slope of Azumamori Mountain ( 東森山 , Azumamoriyama ) , (153m high). Yoriiso
30-405: The hamlet of Maeami ( 前網 ) 500 metres to the west (population 100 / 25 households). Yoriisohama was largely destroyed by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami . After their homes were destroyed by a 15 metre high wave, twelve inhabitants died. 150 residents took refuge in the local school which served as an evacuation centre. However, due to its location on a steep slope at the northern tip of
36-482: Was founded in the 14th century. Local legend has it that its name arose from a rock which was washed onto the beach and which was venerated by the villagers. (寄る 磯 ( yoru iso ) = "the seashore rocks approach"). Formerly part of the town of Oshika , the hamlet became part of Ishinomaki . In April 2005. As of 2005 Yoriisohama consisted of about 100 households, with a population of about 500, mainly engaged in fishery and related occupations. Historically, Yoriiso included
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