Full Recovery from Great East Japan Earthquake Long Overdue

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It has been 14 years since that fateful day. Once again, for Japan, March 11 was a day of remembrance and an occasion to offer prayers for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

We cannot forget how the giant tsunami surged forward, mercilessly engulfing coastal towns in the ferocity of its dark, muddy waters.

*A large tsunami devastated Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, on March 11, 2011. (Onagawa Town)*

The earthquake and tsunami that followed caused 19,708 confirmed fatalities, including disaster-related deaths. Meanwhile, even today, 2,520 people remain missing. Many people observed a moment of silence at 2:46 PM — the exact time the quake struck.

Reconstruction of housing and infrastructure, such as roads, has nearly been completed in the affected areas. However, in Fukushima Prefecture, where the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident occurred, parts of seven cities and towns are still designated as difficult-to-return areas. Recovery in that area is still far from completed.

Government Measures Can Reduce Damage

At present, roughly 28,000 people still have no recourse other than living in evacuation shelters. In November, test removal of fuel debris from the meltdown in the nuclear reactor was successfully completed. That marked an important step towards decommissioning the plant, but the road ahead remains long.

*Public housing units for disaster victims now stand near the inland site where the large fishing boat Kyotoku Maru No. 18 was washed up by the tsunami.*

The population in the disaster-stricken area is declining at a faster pace than the national average. Efforts are ongoing to restore community ties, develop industry, and revitalize the towns. But the "spiritual recovery" that will give people hope for the future has yet to materialize.

Please continue to think about the victims facing hardship and provide whatever support you can. But the nation also needs to accelerate its efforts toward full-scale reconstruction. This anniversary should be a day to renew that pledge in all our hearts.

January 2025 also marked the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. What did Japan learn from these two major earthquakes of the Heisei era?

The most important lesson is that we need to abandon any optimistic expectations we might have about natural disasters.

*At Higashiyuenchi Park in Kobe City, people observe a moment of silence at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, at 2:46 PM on March 11. (©Sankei by Yasushi Kawamura)*

Learning from These Disasters

The Great Hanshin Earthquake struck despite the fact that many people firmly believed a major earthquake will not occur in the Kansai region.

Likewise, most experts predicted that a major earthquake would not occur in the Tohoku region. Japan's nuclear power plants were thought to be safe and not subject to severe accidents. All of these illusions have been swept away.

The Noto Peninsula earthquake also caused significant damage on New Year's Day 2024. A major earthquake could take place anywhere in the Japanese archipelago. No coast is free from the threat of tsunami. We must keep that objective reality in mind and prepare for the next challenge.

We have learned that although we cannot prevent earthquakes, we can reduce the damage they cause. Many people died during the Great Hanshin Earthquake when their houses collapsed. Lessons from that tragedy led to the strengthening of earthquake resistance standards for buildings. Even today, volunteer activities that started in the Hanshin area at that time continue to be a great help nationwide in times of disaster.

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami predictions were revised. Also, levees and evacuation facilities were built in various regions. However, such physical measures alone are insufficient to safeguard lives.

Evacuation Saves Lives

Delays in evacuation resulted in more casualties during the Great East Japan Earthquake. If you feel a strong tremor, evacuate immediately without hesitation. We need to continue to pass on this fundamental principle to future generations.

*Fourteen years later, residents held a moment of silence in front of Kadowaki Elementary School, a ruin that still bears the scars of the tsunami and fires that followed. (©Sankei by Masahiro Sakai)*

There may be little time left until the next big earthquake. The probability of a Nankai Trough earthquake occurring within the next 30 years is about 80%. And, in 2012, the Japanese government estimated an unprecedented death toll of 320,000 people in its worst case scenario. Hokkaido is also facing the high possibility of a major earthquake in the Chishima Trench.

We must mobilize all of our experience and lessons learned to date and quickly implement measures to reduce damage. The sacrifices made during earthquake disasters must not be in vain. That surely is the responsibility of those of us living today. Constant efforts to improve nuclear safety are, of course, essential.

On the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, colorful paper cranes were displayed in front of the town hall of Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, and residents joined hands in mourning the victims. (©Sankei by Kanata Iwasaki)

Never Forget 'That Day'

Fading memories are another major issue. According to a survey conducted by Iwate Prefecture in 2024, about 50% of respondents answered that fading of memories about the disaster is "advancing" or "slightly advancing" over time.

Memories of the event among people living outside the area impacted by the disaster have probably grown even dimmer. But we should all remember "that day."

Where were you and what were you doing when the earthquake struck? And what were your feelings at the time? Memories of the disaster should be engraved in your heart. After all, weren't many people surprised by the strong shaking and worried about the safety of their families and loved ones?

*Loved ones are remembered on March 11 with a prayer at a grave on the 14th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Namie Town, Fukushima . (©Sankei by Kanata Iwasaki)*

"I wish we had talked more."

"I wanted to express my gratitude."

These are the types of things that people who have lost a loved one often say. In normal times, people tend to forget to express their feelings honestly. We might make March 11 a day to connect with loved ones and express our gratitude.

Facing the Future

March 9 saw the unveiling of a new monument in the town of Minamisanriku in Miyagi Prefecture. It is dedicated to town employees who gave their lives during the tsunami at the disaster prevention office and other locations around town.

One of the names on that monument is Miki Endo, who continued to urge residents to flee over the loudspeaker until the disaster prevention center she had refused to leave was inundated by the tsunami. How can we ever forget Endo-san's moving voice?

What can you do to protect your own life and the lives of your loved ones? All citizens must think seriously about this and work together to build a disaster-resistant Japan. We must face the future with new resolve.