Kesennuma is a Japanese city. It is part of Miyagi Prefecture. Kesennuma is in the northeastern part of the prefecture and faces two coasts: the Pacific coast, and Sanriku coast. Kesennuma borders the town of Minamisanriku to the south. Across the border to the north in Iwate Prefecture, it borders the cities of Ofunato and Rikuzentakata.
The city was heavily damaged on March 11, 2011 by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and by large fires. Between 1 March and 31 August 2011, many people left Kesennuma. The population went down by about 2,500 people, or 5%.
Damage on March 11, 2011
Sister cities and friendship agreements
Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture: Sister city agreement on May 1, 1997. Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture Meguro, Tokyo. Kesennuma is a major producer of a mackerel fish called sanma. Meguro holds a large Sanma Festival each year. Kesennuma and Meguro became sister cities at that festival on September 18, 2010. Puntarenas, Costa Rica Zhoushan, People's Republic of China Jilin, Changyi District, People's Republic of China Seattle and Kesennuma have a sister port relationship.