
Four years on, the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis that befell Japan’s Tohoku region on March 11, 2011 have very little effect on the day-to-day lives of most people in the country. The rolling blackouts have stopped. Batteries and bottled water are once again readily available. Trains are running, and whole cities aren’t spending hours walking home from work or school.
But while a return to normalcy is a desirable, and ultimately necessary, part of recovery, it’s also important to remember what happened. To stem the forgetfulness that often accompanies the later stages of coping with tragedy, on March 11 Yahoo! Japan will be making a donation to the Tohoku recovery efforts for every person that searches for “3.11” through the company’s search engine.
The Internet provider and portal conducted an identical initiative last year, supplying a total of 25,683,250 yen (approximately US $216,000) to charitable organizations. This year, Yahoo! will be making its donation to the Tohoku Recovery Support Organization (Tohoku Fukkou Shien Dantai in Japanese).
A 10-yen donation will be made for each user who searches for “3.11” between midnight and 11:59 p.m. on March 11. To reiterate, the donation is made per user, not per search. Once you’ve searched once, you’ve done your job, so there’s nothing to be gained by repeating the search over and over again.
Instead, Yahoo! would prefer you took the time to read through some of the results that come up, in keeping with the program’s aim of creating a moment in which to think about the places and people’s lives which were so abruptly changed in 2011. The company also plans to release a video with interviews of people from the disaster-struck towns of Ishinomaki, Yamadamachi, and Soma, which are located in Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima Prefectures, respectively. Yahoo! will also be creating a visualization of 3.11-releated searches, similar to the one from 2014
▼ Aside from jishin/地震 (“earthquake”), dengonban/伝言板 (“message board”), yoshin/余震 (aftershock), gienkin/義援金 (“donation”), and gasorin/ガソリン (“gasoline”) are all prominently featured.
Yahoo! Japan’s search box can be found here.
Sources: IT Media, Yahoo! Japan News
Top image: TechCrunch
Insert images: YouTube



You can help survivors of Japan’s 3.11 earthquake/tsunami in seconds with a quick Yahoo! search
Great East Japan Earthquake: Commemorate eight years and donate with a search on Yahoo! Japan
Yahoo! Japan donates 5x projected amount to Tohoku after unexpected number of people participate
Moving video commemorates anniversary of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan
If the 2011 tsunami hit Tokyo’s Shibuya Scramble Crossing, this is how high it would’ve been
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
Japan’s full-facemask Ninja Parka still lets you eat ice cream[Photos]
Japanese fashion company’s modernized haori half coats will keep you warm and samurai chic
McDonald’s Japan adds new Hello Kitty and Pompompurin drinks to the menu for a limited time
We followed Tokyo’s mystery walking map and ended up creating our own bar-hopping adventure
How to get a free Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut with your coffee in Japan
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
Tokyo’s best museum for foreign travelers finally reopens after being closed for four years
Totoro Fund line of beautiful artwork and apparel lets you help the real-world Totoro Forest
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
On the 7th anniversary of 3.11, Japanese netizens reflect on the story of the tsunami motorcycle
3.11 survivors share what items they really needed during the aftermath of the disaster
NHK slips touching hidden message into TV listings on March 11
Victim of 3.11 to people who have never suffered a disaster: Don’t send origami cranes to shelters
15 years after Tohoku tsunami, Japan’s free disaster phone message number is important to remember
Great East Japan Earthquake memorial service broadcast in Shinjuku after years-long absence