Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

Photographs lie in a school gymnasium set up as a collection site for lost possessions from last year's tsunami on March 2, 2012 in the Yuriage area of Natori, Japan. The NGO, Omoide - Sagashi in Yuriage, working on the repatriation of lost articles, was started by a couple whose daughter is still missing. As the one-year anniversary approaches, the areas most affected by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami that left 15,848 dead and 3,305 missing, according to Japan's National Police Agency, continue to struggle. Thousands of people without homes remain living in temporary dwellings. The Japanese government faces an uphill battle with the need to dispose of rubble as it works to rebuild economies and livelihoods.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

A lone apartment block stands in a neighborhood ravaged by last year's tsunami on March 2, 2012 in Ishinomaki, Japan. As the one-year anniversary approaches, the areas most affected by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami that left 15,848 dead and 3,305 missing, according to Japan's National Police Agency, continue to struggle. Thousands of people without homes remain living in temporary dwellings. The Japanese government faces an uphill battle with the need to dispose of rubble as it works to rebuild economies and livelihoods.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

Recovered film negatives hang in a school gymnasium set up as a collection site for lost possessions from last years tsunami on March 2, 2012 in the Yuriage area of Natori, Japan. The NGO, Omoide - Sagashi in Yuriage, working on the repatriation of lost articles, was started by a couple whose daughter is still missing. As the one-year anniversary approaches, the areas most affected by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami that left 15,848 dead and 3,305 missing, according to Japan's National Police Agency, continue to struggle. Thousands of people without homes remain living in temporary dwellings. The Japanese government faces an uphill battle with the need to dispose of rubble as it works to rebuild economies and livelihoods.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

Workers from a power company repair damaged power lines in an area affected by last year's tsunami on March 2, 2012 in the Yuriage area of Natori, Japan. As the one-year anniversary approaches, the areas most affected by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami that left 15,848 dead and 3,305 missing, according to Japan's National Police Agency, continue to struggle. Thousands of people without homes remain living in temporary dwellings. The Japanese government faces an uphill battle with the need to dispose of rubble as it works to rebuild economies and livelihoods.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images)

Families of victims pray as they attend a Buddhist memorial service at a makeshift shrine for the victims from the Okowa Elementary School, killed in last years tsunami, on March 03, 2012 near Ishinomaki, Japan. Of the 108 students, 74 died and three remain missing. As the one year anniversary approaches, the areas most affected by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami that left 15,848 dead and 3,305 missing according to Japan's National Police Agency continue to struggle. Thousands of people still remain without homes living in temporary dwellings. The Japanese government faces an uphill battle with the need to dispose of rubble as it works to rebuild economies and livelihoods.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

A fishing boat, dragged in-land during last year's tsunami, sits on the ground March 06, 2012 in Kesennuma, Japan. As the one year anniversary approaches, the areas most affected by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami that left 15,848 dead and 3,305 missing according to Japan's National Police Agency continue to struggle. Thousands of people still remain without homes living in temporary dwellings. The Japanese government faces an uphill battle with the need to dispose of rubble as it works to rebuild economies and livelihoods.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images)

Cars salvaged from last years tsunami are piled, waiting for owners to come and claim them on March 02, 2012 in Ishinomaki, Japan. As the one year anniversary approaches, the areas most affected by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami that left 15,848 dead and 3,305 missing according to Japan's National Police Agency continue to struggle. Thousands of people still remain without homes living in temporary dwellings. The Japanese government faces an uphill battle with the need to dispose of rubble as it works to rebuild economies and livelihoods.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

In this composite image (top) a man walks past a car wedged into a boat on March 18, 2011 and (bottom) the same location as seen ahead of the one year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 7, 2012 in Ishinomaki, Japan. A 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore on March 11, 2011 at 2:46pm local time, triggering a tsunami wave of up to ten meters which engulfed large parts of north-eastern Japan and also damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing the worst nuclear crisis in decades. The number of dead and missing amounted to over 25,000 people.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images)

Pine trees, uprooted from last year's tsunami, lay strewn over the beach on March 07, 2012 in Rikuzentakata, Japan.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images)

City council employee works to measure plots of land to assist with compensation to be paid to property owners on March 07, 2012 in Kesennuma, Japan.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

In this composite image (top) 91-year-old Eijiro Miura searches for the house he grew up in on the coastline on March 21, 2011 and (bottom) the same location as seen ahead of the one year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 8, 2012 in Motoyoshi, Japan. A 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore on March 11, 2011 at 2:46pm local time, triggering a tsunami wave of up to ten metres which engulfed large parts of north-eastern Japan and also damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing the worst nuclear crisis in decades. The number of dead and missing ammounted to over 25,000 people.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

In this composite image (top) Akiko Hatareyama digs mud out of what is left of her house in front of a grounded ship on March 21, 2011 and (bottom) the same location as seen ahead of the one year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 8, 2012 in Kesennuma, Japan. A 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore on March 11, 2011 at 2:46pm local time, triggering a tsunami wave of up to ten metres which engulfed large parts of north-eastern Japan and also damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing the worst nuclear crisis in decades. The number of dead and missing ammounted to over 25,000 people.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images)

Large piles of debris washed away during last year's tsunami is piled high at a dump site on March 08, 2012 in Minamisanriku, Japan. The fishing industry in North Eastern Japan's Tohoku area have suffered greatly after last year's tsunami. Numerous fishing towns had their equipment, factories and boats and livelihoods washed away. .

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

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A general view of Mihama nuclear power station No 1 reactor right, No 2 reactor center, No 3 reactor left which runs by Kansai Electric Power Co, on March 8, 2012 in Mihama, Japan. Only two of Japanese's 54 nuclear reactors are online nearly 12 months after last year's March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Many of the reactors have been stopped for regular maintenance during which official stress tests are being conducted, ahead of the one year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. A 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore on March 11, 2011 at 2:46pm local time, triggering a tsunami wave of up to ten meters which engulfed large parts of north-eastern Japan and also damaging the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing the worst nuclear crisis in decades. The number of dead and missing has amounted to over 25,000 people.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)

A woman ride bicycle front of the evacuation sign board of Mihama nuclear power plant evacuation zone on March 8, 2012 in Mihama, Japan.Only two of Japanese's 54 nuclear reactors are online nearly 12 months after last year's March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Many of the reactors have been stopped for regular maintenance during which official stress tests are being conducted, ahead of the one year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. A 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore on March 11, 2011 at 2:46pm local time, triggering a tsunami wave of up to ten meters which engulfed large parts of north-eastern Japan and also damaging the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing the worst nuclear crisis in decades. The number of dead and missing has amounted to over 25,000 people.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images)

Dr Hanai Tatsui, 48, prepares patient Ichiji Ishizawa, 52, to be screened for radiation during a whole body radiation check at the Minamisoma City General Hospital, just outside the 20km evacuation zone surrounding the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, on March 09, 2012 in Minamisoma in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Radiation is still being emitted from the shutdown nuclear Dai-ichi plant, though much slower than the following weeks after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. At the Minamisoma City General Hospital, over 20,000 people are registered on waiting lists to get their radiation levels measured with a newly acquired whole-body counter.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

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An empty street is seen in the highly radiated town, on March 09, 2012 in the village of IItate, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Radiation is still being emitted from the shutdown nuclear Dai-ichi plant, though much slower than the following weeks after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. At the Minamisoma City General Hospital, over 20,000 people are registered on waiting lists to get their radiation levels measured with a newly acquired whole-body counter.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)

The Takahama Nuclear Power Station is seen in a roadside mirror which runs by Kansai Electric Power Co., on March 9, 2012 in Takahama, Japan. Only two of Japanese's 54 nuclear reactors are online nearly 12 months after last year's March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Many of the reactors have been stopped for regular maintenance during which official stress tests are being conducted, ahead of the one year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck offshore Japan on March 11, 2011 at 2:46pm local time, triggering a tsunami wave of up to ten meters that engulfed large parts of northeastern Japan and also damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing the worst nuclear crisis in decades. The number of dead and missing has amounted to over 25,000 people.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

In this composite image (top) a man walks past a car wedged into a boat on March 18, 2011 and (bottom) the same location as seen ahead of the one year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 7, 2012 in Ishinomaki, Japan. A 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore on March 11, 2011 at 2:46pm local time, triggering a tsunami wave of up to ten metres which engulfed large parts of north-eastern Japan and also damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing the worst nuclear crisis in decades. The number of dead and missing ammounted to over 25,000 people.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Two year old Kakeru Ishikawa prays with his aunt Nobuko Arakawa at the gravesite of five of his relatives all killed when their home was swept away by the tsunami on March 10, 2012 in Rikuzentakata, Japan. .

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images)

Debris and non recyclable home items lay strewn over the ground where houses and factories once stood on March 08, 2012 in Kesennuma, Japan. The fishing industry in North Eastern Japan's Tohoku area has suffered greatly after last year's tsunami. Numerous fishing towns had their equipment, factories, boats and livelihoods washed away. As a result large numbers of fisherman have turned to alternative industries, including labouring to clean the mountains of rubble left behind the tsunami, but most fight the uphill battle of rebuilding from scratch. Areas most affected by last year's March 11, 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, that left 15,848 dead and 3,305 missing according to Japan's National Police Agency, continue to struggle with thousands of people still living in temporary dwellings. The Japanese government faces an uphill battle with the need to dispose of rubble as it works to rebuild economies and livelihoods.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

A shrine is seen in the destroyed police station on March 10, 2012 in Rikuzentakata, Japan.

Japan Prepares To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Tsunami

(credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

A shrine is seen in the destroyed fire station on March 10, 2012 in Rikuzentakata, Japan. The schools field was damaged by the tsunami and the club was only able to start training again in May of 2011.