Enjoying delicious food along with the beautiful tones played by a disaster-affected piano | STAY BANK SANRIKU Concert in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture

"This place preserves and exhibits fragments of the damage caused by the tsunami. I am working on a 20-year plan because I want to preserve the actual items, believing that if someone doesn't try to save them, they will be lost. I want to protect this place from various perspectives."

Noriko Shindo, the owner of STAY BANK SANRIKU, who has been active as a disaster recovery photographer and location planner, spoke her thoughts in a calm voice to the people who visited that day.

STAY BANK SANRIKU is a private disaster trace archive located in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, which was hit by the largest forest fire in the Heisei era last year. It is likely the only place in Japan that exhibits and preserves disaster-affected pianos and other items.

*The official website is here

May 5, 2026, and the following day, May 6. Hearing that a project would be held at STAY BANK SANRIKU where one could enjoy a meal while listening to live performances on disaster-affected pianos, I visited the facility for the first time since its pre-opening last year.

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Enjoying an exceptionally delicious lunch while listening to the performance of a disaster-affected piano | STAY BANK SANRIKU Concert | Sakari-cho, Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture

STAY BANK SANRIKU utilizes the former Kesen Bank Sakari Branch building, a structure from the Taisho era built by Kesen carpenters. Because of this, a retro-modern space rarely seen today spreads throughout the building, and the space with the piano, which drifts with a certain solemnity, reminds one of a church.

Last August, during the pre-opening, only drinks were offered, centered on deep-roasted coffee using carefully selected beans. This time, on May 5, 2026, the format allows for enjoying live piano performances in addition to a meal. Note that the same content will be offered on May 6 as well.

To describe the lunch plate offered in one word, it is 'superbly delicious.' It features paprikash as the main dish, a salad with carrots and lotus root slowly roasted in an oven at a low temperature, tomatoes, mushroom soup, yogurt with sweetened citrus fruits, and a baked treat made with figs and bananas. In addition, there is deep-roasted coffee.

Everything was delicious, while also having a flavor I had not really felt before at cafes, restaurants, or other eateries. In particular, the carrots slowly roasted at a low temperature and the mushroom soup were exquisite; the taste, which spread a deep sweetness throughout the mouth while retaining the goodness of the vegetables, was irresistibly wonderful.

Alongside the meal, live performances were held by two musicians from within Iwate Prefecture using disaster-affected pianos and other instruments. A total of about 10 songs were performed, including Mompou's 'Songs and Dances No. 5,' Nobuyuki Tsujii's 'Soredemo Ikiteiku' (Still, We Live On), and Mrs. GREEN APPLE's 'Soranji,' and the visitors listened intently to the gentle music played by the disaster-affected piano and saxophone while enjoying their delicious meal.

After the performance ended, Noriko Shindo greeted the visitors, and the event came to a temporary close (performances continued thereafter during business hours).

"Last August, we held a pre-opening as a return for crowdfunding, and the two performers met at that time, which led to this day. Music connected us. We plan to hold the concert six times a year. In the summer, I want to take this disaster-affected piano to a place where you can see the sea and hold a concert by the ocean. Also, I want to eventually make it so that visitors can touch and play the piano at any time."

STAY BANK SANRIKU in photos and text

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