TOKYO (AP) – Japan on Thursday marked the 10th anniversary of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that hit the northeast region, where the lives of many survivors are still on hold.
With bouquets with them, many walked to the shore or visited graves to pray for relatives and friends washed away by the tsunami. Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga were among those who observed a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. – just as the shaking started – at a memorial in Tokyo.
The magnitude 9.0 earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011, was one of the largest on record, triggering a massive tsunami that moved far inland, devastating cities and causing collapses at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. More than 18,000 people died, mainly during the tsunami, and nearly half a million people were displaced.
In addition, the government recognized about 3,700 others – most of them from Fukushima – who died from causes related to the disaster.
Ten years later, more than 40,000 people still cannot return home in and around Fukushima, where areas near the destroyed factory are still off limits due to radioactive contamination.
“Reconstruction in disaster-stricken areas has progressed significantly, but the recovery of the hearts of the survivors is not progressing as much as we want,” said Makoto Saito, an elementary school teacher in Minamisoma, a town affected by the threefold disaster. where he lost his 5-year-old son Shota in the tsunami.
Saito, who represents the survivors of Fukushima, said in his speech at the ceremony that he is concerned that memories will fade outside the disaster area and that he is determined to keep telling the lessons of the disaster and the stories of his son.
Naruhito said “my heart aches” when he thinks of those who have struggled with hardship, drastic changes in their lives, lost their loved ones, jobs and communities. In particular, he pointed out the suffering of many residents of Fukushima who cannot return.
“I also find it important to heal emotional scars and to watch over the mental and physical health of those affected, including the elderly and children,” he said. He emphasized the importance of people assisting them and helping them reconstruct their lives “without leaving a single soul in this difficult situation.”
The rebuilding of roads, train lines and other important infrastructure and housing has largely been completed at a cost of more than 30 trillion yen ($ 280 billion), but much vacant land remains vacant in coastal towns further north in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, where the existing population losses were accelerated by the disaster.
In the town of Otsuchi in Iwate prefecture, where the tsunami destroyed the town hall, killing about 40 workers, families in dark suits gathered on a piece of empty land where the building stood. In Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, dozens of residents prayed at a cenotaph bearing the names of more than 3,000 victims.
No direct deaths from the radiation have been confirmed, but Fukushima has fallen behind in recovery efforts, with 2.4% of the country classified as no-go zones near the nuclear power plant. The decommissioning of the molten reactors is an unprecedented challenge, with one wondering after 10 years of work whether it is possible at all.
Thursday’s award ceremony is the last national commemoration of the 2011 disaster, organized by the government. It comes just two weeks before the Olympic torch relay starts from Fukushima for the postponed Tokyo Summer Games in July.
Suga has said the Olympics will show Japan’s recovery from the disaster and will be evidence of human victory over the coronavirus pandemic. However, some disaster survivors say their work is only half done.
“We are now at the stage of completing the reconstruction of the disaster,” Suga said at the memorial. He recognized that some people are still in trouble with the pandemic, adding to their hardships, and promised to support individual needs in rebuilding their environment, livelihoods and businesses.
The rest of the country also marked the day to raise awareness about disaster prevention. In Kyoto, in western Japan, the authorities conducted emergency drills.
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