Kinoya Ishinomaki Suisan: A resilience rooted in the Sea
Cannery tank destroyed by the tsunami. Source : Nikkei Newspaper
Founded in 1957, Kinoya Ishinomaki Suisan is a Japanese company specialized in the production of canned seafood products. Based in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, the company is renowned for its mackerel, salmon, sardine and tuna preserves, prepared from fresh fish caught in the Sanriku region. In order to offer the highest quality preserves, Kinoya does not use frozen fish, a common practice in the industry. In fact, the fish used in Kinoya preserves is landed at the local port and processed the same day to maintain optimum freshness.
During the 2011 earthquake on the Pacific coast of Tōhoku, the cannery's factory was completely destroyed by the tsunami that hit the town of Ishinomaki. In the weeks following the disaster, teams of volunteers were able to collect thousands of cans buried in the debris. The canned goods in good condition were resold in Tokyo, and the profits used to help rebuild the devastated region.
