ABC Radio's "Hometown Stolen by the Unexpected 3.11 ~The Cross of the Former Crisis Management Section Chief of Kesennuma City" Wins First Place in the Educational Program Category at the 2026 Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association Awards Radio Kinki Regional Judging; Advances to Central Judging

On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the 2026 Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association Awards Radio Kinki Regional Judging was held. "Hometown Stolen by the Unexpected 3.11 ~The Cross of the Former Crisis Management Section Chief of Kesennuma City," produced by Asahi Broadcasting Radio Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as ABC Radio), won first place in the Educational Program category of the 2026 Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association Awards Radio Kinki Regional Judging.

This program will advance to the central judging as the representative of the Kinki region, and the results of the judging are scheduled to be announced in September.

Educational Program Category

[Title] Hometown Stolen by the Unexpected 3.11 ~The Cross of the Former Crisis Management Section Chief of Kesennuma City

[Broadcast Date and Time] Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:00 AM - 2:00 AM

[Appearances] Masao Horie (ABC Announcer) · Kenichi Sato (Former Crisis Management Section Chief, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture)

[Production Staff] Producer: Takeo Fujii Director: Hiroki Nishiike Scriptwriter: Masanori Himeji

[Program Content] 15 years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. While memories of the earthquake are fading, preparations for future large-scale disasters such as the Nankai Trough earthquake are called for.

This program is a special program that considers disaster preparedness and evacuation methods, based on interviews with Kenichi Sato, who served as the Crisis Management Section Chief of Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The program is a radio drama adaptation of a dramatic reading based on Mr. Sato's experiences. It depicts the tense response at the Kesennuma City Hall on the day of the earthquake, the state of the city hit by the tsunami, and the evacuation actions of residents, allowing listeners to re-experience the situation and the feelings of the victims at that time.

It also introduces the circumstances under which the Suginoshita district of Kesennuma City, which had been engaged in advanced disaster prevention measures such as creating hazard maps and conducting evacuation drills based on past tsunami damage, was hit by a tsunami exceeding expectations during the Great East Japan Earthquake, resulting in many casualties. Announcer Horie, an old acquaintance, interviews Mr. Sato, who was at the center of disaster prevention efforts, exploring his feelings of self-blame and conflict, and the situation at the time.

Furthermore, through interviews with disaster victims and their bereaved families, the program considers the dangers of relying solely on hazard maps and predictions, and what actions are necessary to protect lives in the next disaster. It is a program that serves as an opportunity to connect to preparations for future disasters by thinking about "what I would do" without letting the lessons of the Great East Japan Earthquake fade.

The broadcast content can be listened to on various podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, and radiko Podcast.

https://radiko.jp/podcast/channels/8960600c-81ae-4e0d-926c-1ac411cf8333?share=1