Japan Marks Quake and Tsunami Anniversary
one more thing to remember this day
11 March 2012
Japan is marking the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami which struck the north-eastern coast, leaving 20,000 dead or missing.
The magnitude 9.0 quake, Japan’s most powerful since records began, also triggered a serious nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Thousands of people were evacuated as radiation leaked from the plant.
There were memorial services, and a minute’s silence was observed at the moment the quake hit, 14:46 local time.
The main memorial ceremony was held at Tokyo’s National Theatre, attended by Japan’s Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.
