On March 11, 2013, Japan is observing the second anniversary of the deadly and disastrous tsunami which had claimed lives of about 19,000 people. The natural disaster had also sparked the worst nuclear disaster for the generation.
In memory of the deceased, the government will host a national ceremony in Tokyo, which will be attended by the Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. The ceremony will remember the 15,881 people who lost their lives and the 2,668 people who remain unaccounted for. Tokyo and the rest of the nation will observe a silence at 2:46 pm, which was the moment when the 9.0 magnitude earthquake had hit on March 11, 2011.
The earthquake had hit the northern pacific coast and led to a tsunami which submerged the coastal communities. The waves crippled the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which then went through meltdowns and explosions. Since the tragedy, the efforts to rebuild the region that was hit by the disaster have been slow.
According to figures, around 315,196 people are still living without permanent homes, many of whom are living in temporary housing units. Moreover, young people are leaving the Fukushima area, where the economy has taken a hit. The government has been trying to make people more comfortable about living around the area, saying that the plant has stopped releasing radioactive chemicals, however people are wary of living there now.
