2011 Tohoku Earthquake
Rather than forget the horrors of the disaster, this coastal town has set up daily reminders of the tsunami on the streets.
As we reach almost a decade since the tragic incident which displaced over 100,000 individuals, Mother Nature makes her comeback.
Recovery efforts are ongoing following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident, and the Tohoku region still needs your help.
Will this flame of hope light the way for those still recovering from the Tohoku earthquake?
The tear-jerking video encourages viewers to “Search for 3.11” on the anniversary to help support reconstruction in the region.
This retelling of the classic tokusatsu tale looks to be surprisingly fresh and nostalgic all at the same time.
Google Maps gives the world an opportunity to see how far the people of Tohoku have come since a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami turned their lives upside-down.
Yukio Ota is a legendary graphic designer in Japan. As the creator of the green “running man” pictogram that features on the nation’s emergency exit signs which have since spread to Europe, Canada and the Asia-Pacific, Ota is a frontrunner when it comes to developing images that convey a thousand words.
Now the designer of the exit sign is making headlines for his long-term project that aims to have the world using a universal language by 2065. Called the Lovers’ Communication System, or LoCoS, the standardised system based on pictographs has the power to overcome language barriers and revolutionise the world of communication as we know it.
Although we explored public restrooms the world over in a previous article, we left out the fact that many refugees, natural disaster survivors, and other displaced people have no access to the modern plumbing many of us take for granted. For those living in areas where public toilets are unavailable, a trip to the bathroom is at best a chore, and at worst a major sanitary concern.
Luckily technological advances are being made in order to help remedy these problems, and so far 2015 has been a promising year in that regard. UK researchers and volunteers were able to successfully create an urine-powered outhouse, while over in Japan a high school girls’ volunteer club recently came up with a new economic and hygienic portable toilet option.
A little over four years ago, a week before the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, 50 melon-headed whales were found beached in Ibaraki Prefecture, only about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the earthquake’s epicenter.
Now the same omen of bad things to come has happened again. On April 9, about 150 melon-headed whales were found beached in Ibaraki Prefecture. As emergency teams race to save the whales, one thought is sitting in the back of their minds: is this foreshadowing another giant earthquake?
What happens after we die? Is it possible to communicate with loved ones after they are gone? And if not, how can we explain the stories of those who claim to have done so? These questions are pertinent to the work of journalist Shuji Okuno, who researches the yūrei banashi, or ghost stories, of relatives bereaved by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
Over 18,000 people were killed in the disaster in March 2011, most by drowning; including 2,601 bodies that were never recovered. Okuno has been researching and recording the stories of Tohoku people bereaved by the disaster who say they were visited by the spirits of their deceased family members, often at the exact moment of their passing.
But reporting on ghost sightings in a disaster zone is controversial work. In an interview with Tohoku-area newspaper Kahoku Shimpo this week, Okuno spoke about the stories he has uncovered and the criticism he continues to face.
Against much public backlash, two reactors at a nuclear power plant in Sendai are scheduled to be restarted. These will be the first to restart operations after all the country’s nuclear plants were shut down indefinitely following the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in 2011.
According to Japanese scientists, Japan might be in for another big one.
Dr. Masaaki Kimura, a seismologist who reportedly predicted the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake, recently appeared on Japanese TV to share his theory about the next major earthquake to strike Japan. Based on his estimates, the quake will occur by 2017 and will be of similar magnitude to 2011’s. Similarly, astronomer Yoshio Kushida continues to insist that a big quake is not too far away. Keep reading to find out more about their respective theories and which specific areas of Japan they’ve got on the radar.
Japan is no stranger to natural disasters, and the world rose up in support after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011 left thousands dead and millions homeless. Now it’s time for Japanese people to repay that kindness by supporting one of their greatest benefactors through their own period of crisis.
Japan probably has the world’s largest and most bizarre selection of Kit Kat flavours on offer, but this latest release is about more than just tickling your tastebuds. Nestle Japan is offering a specially-packaged version of their classic biscuit to help recovery in areas destroyed by the devastating tsunami of March 2011.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Japan’s most beautiful female college student, most handsome male college student crowned【Photos】
Shakey’s Japan releases Mojo Potato recipe to keep home cooks happy during coronavirus outbreak
Japanese driver in traffic jam gets the worst possible vehicle stuck behind him【Video】
Man orders nothing but a free smile from McDonald’s Japan using Uber Eats
Osaka club offers up great heavy metal hand washing song selections
What’s in a name? The 10 most common surnames in Japan (and their meanings)
Japanese 7-11 puts up congratulation decoration for employee who graduated amid self-quarantine
Japan’s new hyper-realistic food model is specifically designed to get your coworkers to shut up
Where are all the beautiful women in Japan? Survey investigates
Japanese mayor asks sister city in China to return donated masks as COVID-19 cases surge
Weekly
- Shakey’s Japan releases Mojo Potato recipe to keep home cooks happy during coronavirus outbreak
Japanese convenience store overtaken by nature and vending machines, looks like a Ghibli movie
Japanese cat does a perfectly graceful acrobatic flip to escape from the perilous shower room【Video】
Six-button Switch! Japanese gadget company turns Nintendo’s console into retro arcade controller- Where are all the beautiful women in Japan? Survey investigates
- Japan’s new hyper-realistic food model is specifically designed to get your coworkers to shut up
Video shows final moment for Harajuku Station as Tokyo landmark closes after 96 years in service
Handsome Japanese cosplayer finds renewing driver’s license hard after huge transformation【Pics】- Japan’s most beautiful female college student, most handsome male college student crowned【Photos】
Japan’s Cats and Dominos video warms the heart, makes us want to home and watch it all day【Video】
Monthly
Jason calls off Friday the 13th activities due to coronavirus
Japanese students hold graduation ceremony in Minecraft amid school cancellation
We order all four burgers from McDonald’s Japan’s Big Mac line and compare their…sizes
Thanks to the coronavirus over 450 manga volumes are now free to read online
Nara deer leave park, head to station for food as tourist numbers tumble due to coronavirus
What if One Piece was a girls’ comic? Shojo manga artist produces character redesign【Pics】
Manga artist on scanlations: “I am not in a financial position to offer my work free-of-charge”
Japanese cosplayer unveils the truth behind girl gamers with these photos
Why did Hayao Miyazaki agree to release Studio Ghibli anime films on Netflix?- Japan’s new hyper-realistic food model is specifically designed to get your coworkers to shut up
Yearly
Adult Cream Pie coming to McDonald’s Japan- Jason calls off Friday the 13th activities due to coronavirus
Japan goes beyond rice cookers with new curry rice cooker, the kitchen gadget we need right now
Japanese cosplay model shows off thighs, but fans’ eyes are on her Nintendo 64 controller grip- Japanese students hold graduation ceremony in Minecraft amid school cancellation
Free “Language Learning with Netflix” extension makes studying Japanese almost too easy
Japan’s one-person bento box-sized rice cooker can give you freshly cooked rice at the office
Studio Ghibli suddenly makes 38 albums of anime music available on Spotify, Apple Music, and more
My Hero Academia creator, publisher make official apologies for controversial character name
Can you solve this crazy difficult, super satisfying math puzzle from a Japanese middle schooler?
RECOMMENDED STORIES
What’s in a name? The 10 most common surnames in Japan (and their meanings)
Japanese 7-11 puts up congratulation decoration for employee who graduated amid self-quarantine
Japan’s new hyper-realistic food model is specifically designed to get your coworkers to shut up
Where are all the beautiful women in Japan? Survey investigates
Japanese mayor asks sister city in China to return donated masks as COVID-19 cases surge
Term “military comfort women” returns to Japanese government-approved junior high textbooks
Gross out your natto-hating friends with this incredibly realistic, sticky-looking train pass case
Making out solo? Manga proposes method to simulate the feeling of a kiss with just your forearm
Tokyo’s iconic Shibuya 109 building closes temporarily to prevent spread of coronavirus
Free “Language Learning with Netflix” extension makes studying Japanese almost too easy
Jason calls off Friday the 13th activities due to coronavirus
20th Century Boys star Toshiaki Karasawa named Japanese Jack Bauer in 24 reboot
Kyoto Animation makes over a dozen anime TV series and movies free to watch online
-
