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Somber Japan Marks Year Since Quake

Country pauses to remember its dead

By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 11, 2012 7:12 AM CDT

(Newser) – At 2:46pm local time today, people all across Japan stood in silence to remember the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami exactly one year ago that killed more than 19,000 people, destroyed 370,000 homes, and created the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, reports the AP. Sirens marked the earthquake, trains stopped, and a Buddhist priest in one coastal town rang a huge bell. At Tokyo's National Theater, Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda stood in silence, along with hundreds of others.

"We shall not let our memory of the disasters fade, pay attention to disaster prevention, and continue our effort to make this land an even safer place to live," said the emperor, who underwent heart surgery just 22 days ago. The earthquake caused at least $200 billion to the nation's coast, cities, roads, and ports, and today there are still 260,000 people living in temporary housing, reports the Washington Post. "We will stand by the people from the disaster-hit areas and join hands to achieve the historic task of rebuilding," said the prime minister.

RIKUZENTAKATA, JAPAN - MARCH 11: People stop to look at a destroyed building as they walk to the Rikuzentakata City memorial ceremony on March 11, 2012 in Rikuzentakata, Japan. Over 3000 people attended the service and placed single Kiku flowers for the victims. On the one year anniversary, the areas...
RIKUZENTAKATA, JAPAN - MARCH 11: People stop to look at a destroyed building as they walk to the Rikuzentakata City memorial ceremony on March 11, 2012 in Rikuzentakata, Japan. Over 3000 people attended...   (Getty Images)
Sea birds perch on blocks of the broken breakwater fallen in the water in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, Sunday, March 11, 2012. People across Japan prayed and stood in silence on Sunday to remember the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck the nation one year ago, killing just over 19,000...
Sea birds perch on blocks of the broken breakwater fallen in the water in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, Sunday, March 11, 2012. People across Japan prayed and stood in silence on Sunday to remember...   (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Jyodoji temple chief monk Zuishyu Sugawra, right, tolls a bell to observe a moment of silence as second chief monk Chiko Sugawara prays for the victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in tsunami-destroyed Rikuzentakata,northeastern Japan, earlier today.
Jyodoji temple chief monk Zuishyu Sugawra, right, tolls a bell to observe a moment of silence as second chief monk Chiko Sugawara prays for the victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in...   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
Participants in a human chain around Japan's parliament during a candle light vigil against nuclear power plant in Tokyo, Sunday, March 11, 2012.
Participants in a "human chain" around Japan's parliament during a candle light vigil against nuclear power plant in Tokyo, Sunday, March 11, 2012.   (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
Participants form a human chain around Japan's parliament during a candlelight vigil against nuclear power plant in Tokyo, Sunday, March 11, 2012.
Participants form a "human chain" around Japan's parliament during a candlelight vigil against nuclear power plant in Tokyo, Sunday, March 11, 2012.   (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
An elderly protester marches outside TEPCO during an anti-nuclear demonstration in Tokyo, Sunday, March 11, 2012.
An elderly protester marches outside TEPCO during an anti-nuclear demonstration in Tokyo, Sunday, March 11, 2012.   (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
A girl waits to release a lantern into Tokyo Bay to mark the anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami which devastated northeast Japan, in Tokyo, Sunday, March 11, 2012.
A girl waits to release a lantern into Tokyo Bay to mark the anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami which devastated northeast Japan, in Tokyo, Sunday, March 11, 2012.   (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
A boy walks past lanterns placed at Tokyo Bay to mark the anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeast Japan, in Tokyo, Sunday, March 11, 2012.
A boy walks past lanterns placed at Tokyo Bay to mark the anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeast Japan, in Tokyo, Sunday, March 11, 2012.   (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
Nobuo Watanabe and his wife, Seiko, walk their dog on a breakwater badly damaged by last year's tsunami in Miyagi Prefecture, Sunday, March 11, 2012.
Nobuo Watanabe and his wife, Seiko, walk their dog on a breakwater badly damaged by last year's tsunami in Miyagi Prefecture, Sunday, March 11, 2012.   (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Shizuko Sugawara and her daughter, Mayumi, search for lost belongings where their house once stood in Miyagi Prefecture, Sunday, March 11, 2012.
Shizuko Sugawara and her daughter, Mayumi, search for lost belongings where their house once stood in Miyagi Prefecture, Sunday, March 11, 2012.   (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
A woman lights candles during an event decorated with ice sculptures in memory of the last year's victims in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, Sunday, March 11, 2012.
A woman lights candles during an event decorated with ice sculptures in memory of the last year's victims in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, Sunday, March 11, 2012.   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
People carry banners as they march on the street during a demonstration denouncing nuclear power plants in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, on March 11, 2012.
People carry banners as they march on the street during a demonstration denouncing nuclear power plants in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, on March 11, 2012.   (Getty Images)
People look at candles with messages written mainly by children in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, on March 11, 2012.
People look at candles with messages written mainly by children in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, on March 11, 2012.   (Getty Images)
People look at candles at a park in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, on March 11, 2012.
People look at candles at a park in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, on March 11, 2012.   (Getty Images)
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tsunami • Japan • natural disaster • memorial service • Emperor Akihito • Japan earthquake • 9.0 earthquake • Fukushima Dai-ichi • Japanese nuclear disaster • Yoshihiko Noda • Japanese tsunami • Empress Michiko

 
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