PHOTOS: Japan marks 3-year anniversary of tsunami, earthquake
March 11, 2014
Chiyoko Hirata (2-L) offers a prayer for her parents Choji and Yoriko Suzuki with her elder sister Hisako Matsuda (L) on the remain of her parents' home living room in front of her house destroyed in the tsunami-devastated Ukedo area in entry-restricted town of Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, northern Japan, five kilometers north of Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, 11 March 2014. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake on 11 March 2011 struck off the coast of Japan followed by a tsunami that triggered the nation's worst nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in nearby Fukushima. The disaster left about 19,000 people dead and missing. (EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA) ( epaselect JAPAN QUAKE TSUNAMI NUCLEAR ANNIVERSARY )
A woman touches a memorial engraved with the names of the victims at Okawa Elementary School on the three year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2014 in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, Japan. On March 11 Japan commemorates the third anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives, and subsequent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo by Yuriko Nakao/Getty Images) ( 477761517 )
Balloons in the shape of doves are released into the air during a memorial service for tsunami victims at the former Yuriage junior high school in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture on March 11, 2014 on the third anniversary of the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit northern Japan. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake in 2011 sent a huge wall of water into the coast of the Tohoku region, splintering whole communities, ruining swathes of prime farmland and killing nearly 19,000 people. (KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) ( 527943998 )
A clock at the elementary school damaged by tsunami still remains in Ukedo town, located within 5km from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on March 10, 2014 in Fukushima, Japan. On March 11 Japan commemorates the third anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives, and subsequent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo by Ken Ishii/Getty Images) ( 477808241 )
A visitor looks at pictures discovered in Sendai city after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster at a gymnasium in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture on March 11, 2014. About 170,000 pictures will be displayed until March 16. Japan marked the third anniversary of the quake-tsunami disaster, which swept away 18,000 victims, destroyed coastal communities, and sparked a nuclear emergency that forced a re-think on atomic power. (KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) ( 527947520 )
Women (C) cry during a memorial service for tsunami victims at former Yuriage junior high school in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture on March 11, 2014 to mark the third anniversary of the quake-tsunami disaster which swept away thousands of victims, destroyed coastal communities, and sparked the nuclear emergency that forced a re-think on atomic power. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake in 2011 sent a huge wall of water into the coast of the Tohoku region, splintering whole communities, ruining swathes of prime farmland and killing nearly 19,000 people. (KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) ( 527944850 )
A resident offers a prayer for victims killed by tsunami following the magnitude 9.0 earthquake in 11 March 2011 in front of the memorial at tsunami-devastated coastal residence area of Arahama in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, 11 March 2014, the third anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami leaving about 19,000 people dead and missing. Police announced on 09 March 2,636 people are still missing and 15,884 were killed by the earthquake and tsunami. (EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA) ( JAPAN QUAKE TSUNAMI NUCLEAR ANNIVERSARY )
Palestinian children fly kites bearing the Palestinian and Japanese flags to show their solidarity with Japan near a Japanese-funded housing project in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip March 11, 2014. The event was organized by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to mark the third anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan that killed thousands. (SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images) ( 527953449 )
Police officers salute during 3rd anniversary ceremony on March 10, 2014 in Fukushima, Japan. On March 11 Japan commemorates the third anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives, and subsequent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo by Ken Ishii/Getty Images) ( 477746829 )
A man holds a candle as he commemorates victims of Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in front of Kobe's light of hope memorial on March 11, 2014 in Kobe, Japan. On March 11 Japan commemorates the third anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives, and subsequent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images) ( 477752037 )
A volunteer looks at paper lanterns during a memorial held in remembrance of victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami at Yuriage Junior High School on March 11, 2014 in Natori, Miyagi prefecture, Japan. On March 11 Japan commemorates the third anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives, and subsequent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo by Yuriko Nakao/Getty Images) ( 477815761 )
Activists of the international environmentalist organization Greenpeace project inscriptions and a sign on the facade of the office building of Hungarian MPs on the bank of River Danube to commemorate the third anniversary of the disaster of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Budapest, Hungary, early 11 March 2014. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake on 11 March 2011 struck off the coast of Japan followed by a tsunami that triggered the nation's worst nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in nearby Fukushima. The disaster left about 19,000 people dead and missing. (EPA/BALAZS MOHAI) ( HUNGARY GREENPEACE FUKUSHIMA ANNIVERSARY )
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) bows to Emperor Akihito (2-R) and Empress Michiko (R) in front of the altar for the victims of the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami at the national memorial service in Tokyo, Japan, 11 March 2014. Japan marked the third anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the north-eastern part of the country and triggered the nation's worst nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in nearby Fukushima. The disaster left about 19,000 people dead and missing. (EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON / POOL) ( JAPAN QUAKE TSUNAMI NUCLEAR ANNIVERSARY )
Japanese Emperor Akihito, left, and Empress Michiko bow to the audience as they leave the national memorial service for the victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Tokyo, Japan, March 11, 2014. Japan marked the third anniversary of a devastating earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing, turned coastal communities into wasteland and triggered a nuclear crisis. (AP Photo/Franck Robichon, Pool) ( Japan Tsunami Anniversary )
People observe a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. in Tokyo Tuesday, March 11, 2014, three years after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan. Japan marked the third anniversary on Tuesday of a devastating disasters that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) ( APTOPIX Japan Tsunami Anniversary )
Two men offer prayers before the altar at Namie, near the striken TEPCO's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Fukushima prefecture on March 11, 2014 on the third anniversary day of massive earthquake and tsunami hit northern Japan. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake in 2011 sent a huge wall of water into the coast of the Tohoku region, splintering whole communities, ruining swathes of prime farmland and killing nearly 19,000 people. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) ( 527947515 )
Employees of a nursing home Tsutomu Sato, 34, left, and Yoko Katayama, 30, toss bouquets of flowers into the sea in remembrance of the 36 people who died in the home during the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Minamisoma Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, Tuesday, March 11 2014. Japan on Tuesday marks the third anniversary of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed 15,884 people and left more than 2,600 unaccounted for in vast areas of its northern coast. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) ( Japan Tsunami Anniversary )
A young woman holding flowers watches the Pacific Ocean on tsunami barrier before offering a one minute silent prayer for victims killed by tsunami following the magnitude 9.0 earthquake in 11 March 2011 at tsunami-devastated coastal residence area of Arahama in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, 11 March 2014, the third anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami leaving about 19,000 people dead and missing. Police announced on 09 March 2,636 people are still missing and 15,884 were killed by the earthquake and tsunami. (EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA) ( JAPAN QUAKE TSUNAMI NUCLEAR ANNIVERSARY )
Koichi Yamada offers a prayer for his friend Kenichi Sato killed by tsunami at his friend's destroyed car in the tsunami-devastated Ukedo area in entry-restricted town of Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, northern Japan, five kilometers north of Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, 11 March 2014. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake on 11 March 2011 struck off the coast of Japan followed by a tsunami that triggered the nation's worst nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in nearby Fukushima. The disaster left about 19,000 people dead and missing. (EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA) ( JAPAN QUAKE TSUNAMI NUCLEAR ANNIVERSARY )
Yui Goto and her son Kotaro stay close together after observing a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m., the time at which the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck at Shobuta beach on March 11, 2014 in Shichigahama town, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. On March 11 Japan commemorates the third anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives, and subsequent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo by Yuriko Nakao/Getty Images) ( 477751591 )
A buddhist monk offers prayers around 2:46 p.m., the time at which the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck at Shobuta beach on March 11, 2014 in Shichigahama town, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. On March 11 Japan commemorates the third anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives, and subsequent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo by Yuriko Nakao/Getty Images) ( 477752315 )
A man sits in front of what is left of a disaster control center in an area devastated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Japan marked the third anniversary on Tuesday of a devastating disasters that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) ( Japan Tsunami Anniversary )
Naoto Mastumura (C), nicknamed "the last man of Fukushima" poses after addressing European MPs, on March 11, 2014, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, on the third anniversary of the tragic events following the tsunami and the resulting nuclear disaster in Fukushima. (FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images) ( 527955628 )
Police officers offer chrysanthemums for tsunami victims in Namie, near the stricken TEPCO Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Fukushima prefecture on March 11, 2014 on the third anniversary day of the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit northern Japan. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake in 2011 sent a huge wall of water into the coast of the Tohoku region, splintering whole communities, ruining swathes of prime farmland and killing nearly 19,000 people. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) ( 527943616 )
A woman reacts at Okawa Elementary School on the three year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2014 in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, Japan. On March 11 Japan commemorates the third anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives, and subsequent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo by Yuriko Nakao/Getty Images) ( 477761515 )
Buddhist monks offer prayers at Okawa Elementary School on the three year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2014 in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, Japan. On March 11 Japan commemorates the third anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives, and subsequent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo by Yuriko Nakao/Getty Images) ( 477761519 )
People offer prayers at 2:46 p.m., the time the March 11 earthquake hit three years ago, at Kitaizumi beach in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Japan is marking the third anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing, turned coastal communities into wasteland and triggered a nuclear crisis. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) ( Japan Tsunami Anniversary )
Relatives of tsunami victims offer prayers at the site of their house that was swept by tsunami at Namie, near the striken TEPCO's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Fukushima prefecture on March 11, 2014 on the third anniversary day of massive earthquake and tsunami hit northern Japan. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake in 2011 sent a huge wall of water into the coast of the Tohoku region, splintering whole communities, ruining swathes of prime farmland and killing nearly 19,000 people. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) ( 527947506 )
People observe a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. in Tokyo Tuesday, March 11, 2014, three years after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan. Japan marked the third anniversary on Tuesday of a devastating disasters that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) ( Japan Tsunami Anniversary )
Police officers salute during 3rd anniversary ceremony on March 10, 2014 in Fukushima, Japan. On March 11 Japan commemorates the third anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives, and subsequent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo by Ken Ishii/Getty Images) ( 477746815 )
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