Students from Tohoku University in Sendai on Saturday showcased artifacts and other products from the disaster-hit Tohoku region at the Japan Block Fair in New York's West Village to help companies in the recovering region drum up more business overseas.

A group of 15 students showed off eight products, including three from Miyagi — a small traditional "tansu" (chest) from Sendai, hand cream and lip balm made with "tsubaki" (camellia) oil from Kesennuma, and tomato juice from Marusen Farm in Kashimadai.

Some 25 New York-based Japanese restaurants and food vendors participated in the fair. But this was the first time a group from Tohoku had joined since the event began five years ago.