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http://www.euronews.com/
Cities across northeastern Japan have been holding their own memorials
for the tsunami's victims, and those of the nuclear crisis that
followed.
In Iwaki along the Fukushima coastline hundreds gathered for a moment of silence on the beach.
Nearly 80,000 across the area have been forced to leave their homes due to radiation fears.
Katsuko Ishii and her family are evacuees from the exclusion zone.
"My
home is in Namie town, and so we can't go home. There aren't really any
words for it. To be honest, we haven't really had any good signs," said
the 42-year-old mother.
Politicians and bureaucrats have come
under fire over the past year for their response to the nuclear disaster
and reconstruction challenge.
The political row has even affected children.
12-year-old Shiori Anzai was overcome with tears as she said:
"I've hardly noticed the year go by, but you really have to wonder what politicians have been doing the whole time."
In
Ofunato hundreds of black-clad residents came to the town hall, and
laid white chrysanthemums to remember the 420 people from the town who
are still missing.
While the country observed a minute's silence
to mark the time the earthquake struck a year ago, Ofunato paused again
33 minutes later, the moment the 23-metre tsunami engulfed the town of
41,000.
Despite their grief some managed to look on the bright side.
"I've
come here to tell my grandfather who was killed that I'm ok and
enjoying life," said 21-year-old Yoshiyuki Morishita, dressed in a dark
suit but wearing a bright smile as he spoke.
12 months after the
disaster, while Japan still struggles with the human and economic cost,
many people have gained widespread admiration for their stoic reaction
and and resilience.
