Japan marks disaster anniversary

Families gather to honour dead

ISHINOMAKI Japan fell silent Sunday to honour the 19,000 people killed a year ago in a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that triggered the world’s worst nuclear crisis in a generation.

Tearful families gathered in towns and villages across the country’s shattered northeast to remember those they lost as the towering waves smashed ashore.

At 2:46 p.m. the nation paused for a minute’s silence to mark the moment nature’s fury was visited on Japan, when the 9.0-magnitude quake set off a devastating chain of events.

At a national ceremony of remembrance in Tokyo silent prayers were led by Japan’s prime minister and Emperor Akihito, who said the country would “never forget” its worst postwar calamity.

“Many difficulties lie ahead in the reconstruction of the disaster-affected areas,” he said, urging citizens to “join their hearts with the people affected by the disasters, and continue to help them to improve their lives.”

A single pillar symbolizing the souls of those who died stood in the middle of the stage, decorated with white chrysanthemums and lilies.

Anti-nuclear demonstrations were held across the northeast region where an estimated 160,000 people were forced to evacuate after the monster waves triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

One year later, more than 340,000 people are still living in temporary housing — most lost their homes when a wall of black water crushed whole communities.

Others were forced to flee homes in the shadow of Fukushima as it began venting toxic radiation over homes and farmland when its cooling systems were knocked out, unleashing the worst nuclear disaster since Chornobyl.

Many parts of a 20-kilometre exclusion zone imposed around the Fukushima plant are likely to remain uninhabitable for years, perhaps decades.

Displaced residents wore anti-radiation suits, gloves and masks on a rare visit to their contaminated hometown.

An elderly woman, whose grandchild is still listed as missing, wept as she laid flowers at a makeshift altar.

“I want my grandchild to be found,” she told reporters.

TORU Hanai/reuters Wakana Kumagai, 7, visits the spot Sunday where her house used to stand until it was washed away by the March 11, 2011 tsunami in Japan. Families gathered in towns and villages Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the quake disaster.

Reuters Anti-nuclear protesters participate in a moment of silence Sunday in Tokyo, to mark the first anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami.