Japan marks disasters six months on
- 13 years ago
Anti-nuclear demonstrators in Tokyo mark the six-month anniversary of Japan's earthquake and tsunami.
In the face of an ongoing nuclear crisis stemming from damaged reactors, they demand the government shut down all nuclear power plants.
Protesters say they want to continue feeling the loss of the 20,000 killed in the disasters and remind themselves of the reconstruction still needed.
In Ishinomaki on the coast, survivors remember the city's more than 3000 victims and 700 missing with a moment of silence.
Organisers lay a rainbow created from the letters of children.
(SOUNDBITE) 36-YEAR-OLD EVENT ORGANIZER TAISHI UCHIYAMA SAYING:
"There are a lot of people who are being affected by natural and man-made disasters. So we just want people to keep their dreams and hopes. If everyone puts their dreams together, it can become a rainbow that gives hope to everyone. So we went around and gathered everyone's dreams to make this."
One local businessman visits his destroyed shop, where his mother was washed away by the tsunami.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 66-YEAR-OLD DESTROYED SHOP OWNER KATSUJU OGATA SAYING:
"It's been six months now, and I still have no income. I ran away from the tsunami with nothing. I finally had my older brother give me a car, but I had my three cars all washed away. I don't have anything as everything was washed away. It's been 6 months but I don't feel like I've moved forward at all."
Nearly 10,000 people are still living in shelters after losing their homes, making the effects of the disasters an everyday reality for many.
Lindsey Parietti, Reuters.
In the face of an ongoing nuclear crisis stemming from damaged reactors, they demand the government shut down all nuclear power plants.
Protesters say they want to continue feeling the loss of the 20,000 killed in the disasters and remind themselves of the reconstruction still needed.
In Ishinomaki on the coast, survivors remember the city's more than 3000 victims and 700 missing with a moment of silence.
Organisers lay a rainbow created from the letters of children.
(SOUNDBITE) 36-YEAR-OLD EVENT ORGANIZER TAISHI UCHIYAMA SAYING:
"There are a lot of people who are being affected by natural and man-made disasters. So we just want people to keep their dreams and hopes. If everyone puts their dreams together, it can become a rainbow that gives hope to everyone. So we went around and gathered everyone's dreams to make this."
One local businessman visits his destroyed shop, where his mother was washed away by the tsunami.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 66-YEAR-OLD DESTROYED SHOP OWNER KATSUJU OGATA SAYING:
"It's been six months now, and I still have no income. I ran away from the tsunami with nothing. I finally had my older brother give me a car, but I had my three cars all washed away. I don't have anything as everything was washed away. It's been 6 months but I don't feel like I've moved forward at all."
Nearly 10,000 people are still living in shelters after losing their homes, making the effects of the disasters an everyday reality for many.
Lindsey Parietti, Reuters.