Tohoku
Tohoku Region, Northeast Region
noun
The East North area of Japan is called Tohoku or the Tohoku region. It was the region hit by the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. This can also mean northeast region when talking about China or Japan, but for other countries (and for the direction) we'd use 北東.
とうほく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well.
東北で、ボランティアをしていました。
I was volunteering in Tohoku.
東北で一人ぐらしをしています。
I'm living by myself in Tohoku now.
マグニチュード8.9の地震が、日本の東北地方の海岸を襲った。
A magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed into Japan’s northeastern coast.