JAPAN came to a standstill as it marked the first anniversary of a magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami in the north-eastern part of the country that triggered the world's worst nuclear disaster since the 1986 Chernobyl accident.
More than 19,000 people died or went missing in the March 11 twin natural disasters, which also destroyed more than 370,000 houses.
Many roads have since been rebuilt and most debris has been cleaned up, but 260,000 people still live in temporary housing in the prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima.
The country commemorated the victims with a moment of silence at 2.46pm (4.46pm AEDT yesterday), the time the quake struck the region.
Residents attend a joint memorial ceremony at a district in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, remembering the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck the nation a year ago. Picture: AP
Source: AP
Japanese Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attended a government-led memorial service in Tokyo.
"It is my hope that the people's hearts will always be with the afflicted people and the afflicted regions, and that everyone will continue to work towards improving the conditions of those areas," said the emperor, who underwent heart-bypass surgery in February.
The emperor also expressed his gratitude for the support that Japan had received from all over the world.
"Many people overseas responded to the disaster by sending us relief teams and offering us help in various ways," the emperor said. "I am deeply grateful to the kindnesses shown by the people around the world."
A family pray for 74 school children and 10 teachers who lost their lives in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, at a memorial in front of the Okawa elementary school in Onagawa, Miyagi prefecture. Picture: AFP
Source: AFP
Critics say the recovery has been painfully slow and the authorities have squeezed most of the disaster victims into tiny prefabricated housing units located far from city centres.
Noda, however, pledged to accomplish a speedy recovery of the disaster-hit regions.
"The government will work to accomplish reconstruction in the disaster-affected regions without delay," the premier said.
The nuclear crisis has forced more than 80,000 people to leave areas around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, which went into meltdown after it was struck by the tsunami. A series of fires and blasts led to massive release of radioactive substances into the environment.
The government set up a no-go zone with a 20km radius around the plant.
"Those living in areas designated as the danger zone lost their homes and livelihoods and had to leave the places they used to live," the emperor said. "In order for them to live there again safely, we have to overcome the problem of radioactive contamination, which is a formidable task."
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano told DPA that human error had played a significant role in the nuclear disaster at the plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO).
"One reason that allowed the unfolding of the accident was the lack of independence of the regulatory body in Japan. The Japanese regulatory body was not robust enough, and the oversight over the operator was weak," Amaya said.
Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency is under the control of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which had been promoting nuclear power generation.
TEPCO extends its "deepest apologies to all residents of the neighbouring region of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant and Fukushima Prefecture as well as broader society for the concern and anxiety that arose on account of the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station," company president Toshio Nishizawa said.
"Our battle with the nuclear accident has continued. We are sure to rebuild and turn (the region) back to a beautiful Fukushima," the premier said.
On Sunday, anti-nuclear protests were held around the country, including one in Koriyama in Fukushima prefecture.
The biggest was 16,000 people at a baseball stadium in Koriyama some 60km away from the plant.
Participants called for an end to nuclear energy in Japan and compensation for victims from Tokyo Electric Power.
"Our town has turned out to be another Chernobyl," Masami Yoshizawa, who ran a cattle farm in Namie, 10km from the plant, shouted through a loudspeaker.
"We are in despair now, but I will get back my hometown even if it takes me the rest of my life," said Yoshizawa as he stood atop a wagon displaying pictures of his cows lying dead in their shed.
"I won't be beaten, no matter what. I will keep on fighting," he said.
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