
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
A look back on 40 years of Japanese schools banning stuff
Man arrested in Japan after leaving car in coin parking lot for six years, racking up three-million-yen bill
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Japan has omurice chocolate, and the weirdest thing isn’t how it tastes
Our writers take on the world’s smallest four-player Othello game
Swapping seats on Japan’s bullet trains is not allowed, Shinkansen operator says
Japan’s wildest Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony celebrates new adults in Kitakyushu 【Photos】
Wagyu beef gacha vending machine dispenses meat at random in Japan
Bone-chilling taxi tours of Japan’s most haunted places now include all-night course, livestreams
Inventor of instant ramen noodles appears as Japanese samurai in awesome new animated rap video
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Three beautiful places to see Japan’s plum blossoms after starting your day in downtown Tokyo
Cherry blossom forecasts map shows Japan’s OTHER sakura season is starting right now
Downloads of 39-year-old Guns N’ Roses song increase 12,166 percent thanks to Gundam
Huge Evangelion Unit-01 head appearing in lights in Japan to celebrate anime’s 30th anniversary
New Studio Ghibli stamps leave an impression on your stationery…and your heart
Family Mart releases huge range of cute sweets for Cat Day in Japan
Japan’s first all-matcha ramen restaurant is now open in Kyoto【Photos】
Japan’s most famous Mt. Fuji view park cancels cherry blossom festival because of overtourism
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Japan releases first official sakura cherry blossom forecast for 2026
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning looks to be affecting tourist crowds on Miyajima
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys from Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away
Yokai are descending upon Tokyo this spring in the latest immersive art experience
Japan’s Naruto theme park now offering real-world version of Minato’s kunai ninja weapon
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
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
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
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
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
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
Great East Japan Earthquake memorial service broadcast in Shinjuku after years-long absence
Leave a Reply