Iwaki 3.11 Memorial & Revitalization Museum.

“At 2:46pm on the 11 March 2011, the largest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history struck off the coast of Miyagi prefecture. The earthquake and the ensuing tsunami would drastically affect the lives of millions – particularly those residing along Tohoku region’s eastern coastline. To make matters worse, the following day would see the meltdown of TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

“At least 468 Iwaki residents lost their lives due to the disaster, while tens of thousands of others lost their homes. This figure is just a small portion of the total casualties of 3.11. As of 2020 there were nearly 16,000 people reported to have perished in the Great East Japan Earthquake, and almost 2,600 still missing. Statistics which included disaster-related deaths from suicide and illness put this number closer to 20,000. In Iwaki, over 60,000 houses were partially or totally destroyed.”