Carp streamers in tsunami-hit city

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan, May 5 Kyodo - Carp streamers fly above a field in Higashimatsushima, a Miyagi Prefecture city devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, on May 5, 2025, in a Children's Day event in memory of those killed in the disaster. (Kyodo)

Carp streamers in tsunami-hit city

Carp streamers in tsunami-hit city

Carp streamers fly above a field in Higashimatsushima, a Miyagi Prefecture city devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, on May 5, 2025, in a Children's Day event in memory of those killed in the disaster.

Carp streamers in tsunami-hit city

Carp streamers in tsunami-hit city

Carp streamers fly above a field in Higashimatsushima, a Miyagi Prefecture city devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, on May 5, 2025, in a Children's Day event in memory of those killed in the disaster.

Carp streamers in tsunami-hit city

Carp streamers in tsunami-hit city

Carp streamers fly above a field in Higashimatsushima, a Miyagi Prefecture city devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, on May 5, 2025, in a Children's Day event in memory of those killed in the disaster.

Carp streamers in tsunami-hit city

Carp streamers in tsunami-hit city

Carp streamers fly above a field in Higashimatsushima, a Miyagi Prefecture city devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, on May 5, 2025, in a Children's Day event in memory of those killed in the disaster.

Carp streamers in tsunami-hit city

Carp streamers in tsunami-hit city

Carp streamers fly above a field in Higashimatsushima, a Miyagi Prefecture city devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, on May 5, 2025, in a Children's Day event in memory of those killed in the disaster.

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over ASDF base in northeastern Japan

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over ASDF base in northeastern Japan

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies during an aviation festival at the ASDF base in Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 25, 2024.

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over ASDF base in northeastern Japan

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over ASDF base in northeastern Japan

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies during an aviation festival at the ASDF base in Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 25, 2024.

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over ASDF base in northeastern Japan

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over ASDF base in northeastern Japan

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies during an aviation festival at the ASDF base in Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 25, 2024.

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over ASDF base in northeastern Japan

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over ASDF base in northeastern Japan

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies during an aviation festival at the ASDF base in Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 25, 2024.

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over ASDF base in northeastern Japan

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over ASDF base in northeastern Japan

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies during an aviation festival at the ASDF base in Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 25, 2024.

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over ASDF base in northeastern Japan

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over ASDF base in northeastern Japan

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies during an aviation festival at the ASDF base in Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 25, 2024.

Blue Impulse aerobatic team

Blue Impulse aerobatic team

Spectators look at planes used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team during an aviation festival at the ASDF base in Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 27, 2023.

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over northeastern Japan

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over northeastern Japan

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies during an aviation festival at the ASDF base in Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 27, 2023.

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over northeastern Japan

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over northeastern Japan

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies during an aviation festival at the ASDF base in Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 27, 2023.

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over northeastern Japan

Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over northeastern Japan

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies during an aviation festival at the ASDF base in Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 27, 2023.

Musical in disaster-hit city

Musical in disaster-hit city

People affected by the March 2011 earthquake-tsunami in eastern Japan perform in a musical in Higashimatsushima, a Miyagi Prefecture city devastated by the disaster, on March 4, 2023.

"Shishi-mai" lion dance performed in Miyagi Pref.

"Shishi-mai" lion dance performed in Miyagi Pref.

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - A "shishi-mai" lion dance performer in a costume pretends to bite a mother and her baby to wish for their health in Higashimatsushima in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Miyagi on Jan. 2, 2015.

"Shishi-mai" lion dance performed at shrine in Miyagi Pref.

"Shishi-mai" lion dance performed at shrine in Miyagi Pref.

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - A "shishi-mai" lion dance is performed at Tamatsukuri Jinja, a Shinto shrine, in Higashimatsushima in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Miyagi on Jan. 2, 2015, to wish for the health of people.

Japan tsunami survivor seeks liaison with Sumatra victims

Japan tsunami survivor seeks liaison with Sumatra victims

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia - Shuya Takahashi, chief of the reconstruction policy section of the Higashimatsushima municipal government in northeastern Japan's Miyagi Prefecture, shares his city's experience in the 2011 tsunami during a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Indonesia's Banda Aceh on Dec. 6, 2014. Takahashi, who lost his 22-year-old daughter as well as his home in the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, stressed the importance for Japan and Indonesia to share lessons and know-how in mitigating future disasters.

Temple holds rite for unclaimed spirit tablets

Temple holds rite for unclaimed spirit tablets

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - A Buddhist priest holds a memorial service for some 400 spirit tablets unclaimed after the 2011 tsunami at the Seitai-ji temple in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 8, 2014. The temple is keeping the tablets recovered from debris following the disaster.

Tsunami-hit city makes DVD to pass on lessons to future

Tsunami-hit city makes DVD to pass on lessons to future

SENDAI, Japan - Shuichi Atsumi, head of a municipal library in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, shows on Dec. 3, 2014, two DVDs produced by the northeastern Japan city aimed at passing on to future generations the lessons from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster, which killed about 1,100 people in the city. The not-for-sale DVDs -- 3,000 copies in Japanese and 1,000 copies in English -- have been donated to public libraries nationwide as well as to local and overseas support groups.

Man misses late wife in Miyagi Pref.

Man misses late wife in Miyagi Pref.

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Naoyasu Abe reminisces about his late wife Reiko at his home in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on July 29, 2014. Reiko, who was a nurse at a coastal hospital in Ishinomaki in the northeastern Japanese prefecture, was a victim of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

Man misses wife killed in 2011 disaster

Man misses wife killed in 2011 disaster

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Naoyasu Abe stands in front of the kitchen countertop decorated with numerous photos of his late wife Reiko, a victim of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster, and of their children at his home in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 29, 2014.

Man fills home with late wife's photos

Man fills home with late wife's photos

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Naoyasu Abe points to photos of his late wife Reiko, a victim of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster, and of their children on the kitchen countertop at his home in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 29, 2014.

'Science On a Sphere' introduced to Miyagi Pref.

'Science On a Sphere' introduced to Miyagi Pref.

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Pupils look at "Science On a Sphere" displaying planetary data at the Discovery Center in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 26, 2014. The sphere was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States.

'Science On a Sphere' introduced to Miyagi Pref.

'Science On a Sphere' introduced to Miyagi Pref.

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Pupils look at "Science On a Sphere" displaying planetary data at the Discovery Center in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 26, 2014. The sphere was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States.

PM Abe visits dwelling complex for disaster victims

PM Abe visits dwelling complex for disaster victims

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) visits a public dwelling complex, built for people who lost their homes due to the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster, in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 16, 2014.

Giant baseball glove unveiled in disaster-hit Ishinomaki

Giant baseball glove unveiled in disaster-hit Ishinomaki

ISHINOMAKI, Japan - Junior baseball players from Ishinomaki and Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, pose for a photo in Ishinomaki on June 20, 2014, with a giant baseball glove made to encourage children in the affected area.

Naturalist Nicol speaks to children in open-air class

Naturalist Nicol speaks to children in open-air class

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Author and naturalist C.W. Nicol (L) speaks to students from Nobiru and Miyato elementary schools in an open-air class, with a tree house overlooking them, in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on June 10, 204.

Children visit tree house in open-air class

Children visit tree house in open-air class

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Students from Nobiru and Miyato elementary schools visit a tree house during an open-air class in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on June 10, 2014.

Naturalist Nicol encourages children to enjoy outdoors

Naturalist Nicol encourages children to enjoy outdoors

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Author and naturalist C.W. Nicol (L) speaks to students from Nobiru and Miyato elementary schools after an open-air class in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on June 10, 2014. The elementary schools were damaged by the 2011 tsunami and plan to relocate to higher ground.

36m-long sushi roll made in disaster-hit Higashimatsushima

36m-long sushi roll made in disaster-hit Higashimatsushima

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Some 100 residents in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, hit by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, make a "norimaki" sushi roll with a length of about 36 meters during a local festival held outside of temporary housing on May 4, 2014.

3 years after quake-tsunami

3 years after quake-tsunami

SENDAI, Japan - Photos show Nobiru Station on the JR Senseki Line in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 14, 2011 (L), three days after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, and on March 3, 2014 (R).

3 years after quake-tsunami

3 years after quake-tsunami

SENDAI, Japan - Photos show an area straddling Higashimatsushima and Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture on March 14, 2011 (top), three days after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, and on March 3, 2014 (bottom).

Higashimatsushima to launch tsunami tracking system

Higashimatsushima to launch tsunami tracking system

SENDAI, Japan - Hideo Abe, mayor of Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, explains on Feb. 10, 2014, a new system to keep track of tsunami in real-time through surveillance cameras set up along the city's coastline and on top of the city hall. The northeastern Japan city, affected by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, plans to start operating the system in April.

77-yr-old performs lion dance in tsunami-hit Tohoku

77-yr-old performs lion dance in tsunami-hit Tohoku

SENDAI, Japan - Shinichiro Tsuda, the oldest member of the Omagarihama Shishimai (lion dance) preservation group, explains the lion's movements during an interview on Nov. 7, 2013 in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture.

731 on plane

731 on plane

SENDAI, Japan - Photo shows Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sitting in the cockpit of a training airplane during his visit to an Air Self-Defense Force base in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on May 12, 2013. South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Tai Young on May 16, 2013, criticized Abe for posing for a photo in the cockpit of a plane with the number 731 written on its body, as the figure reminds South Koreans of Unit 731, a former Japanese military unit believed to have conducted human experiments.

Blue Impulse back to disaster-hit base

Blue Impulse back to disaster-hit base

SENDAI, Japan - The Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse flight team resumes practice of demonstration flights at the base in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 4, 2013, after a lapse of more than two years following damage from the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

Blue Impulse back to disaster-hit base

Blue Impulse back to disaster-hit base

SENDAI, Japan - The Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse flight team resumes practice of demonstration flights at the base in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 4, 2013, after a lapse of more than two years following damage from the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

Blue Impulse back to disaster-hit base

Blue Impulse back to disaster-hit base

SENDAI, Japan - The Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse flight team resumes practice of demonstration flights at the base in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 4, 2013, after a lapse of more than two years following damage from the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

Carnations on gravestone

Carnations on gravestone

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Photo shows carnations on a gravestone in tsunami-hit Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on May 12, 2012, the eve of Mother's Day.

Higashimatsushima soon after quake, now

Higashimatsushima soon after quake, now

TOKYO, Japan - Photos show Omagari district in the city of Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, on March 14, 2011 (top), shortly after the area was devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and the same location on March 4, 2012 (bottom), in which a ship brought ashore by the tsunami is still left.

Higashimatsushima soon after quake, now

Higashimatsushima soon after quake, now

TOKYO, Japan - Photos show members of the Ground Self-Defense Force saluting to victims at a temporary burial site in the city of Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, on April 3, 2011 (top), shortly after the area was devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and the same location on March 4, 2012 (bottom), in which the site was covered by snow.

Higashimatsushima soon after quake, now

Higashimatsushima soon after quake, now

TOKYO, Japan - Photos taken from a Kyodo News helicopter show an area in the city of Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 12, 2011 (top), shortly after the area was devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and the same location on March 3, 2012 (bottom).

Aerial view of tsunami-hit area

Aerial view of tsunami-hit area

SENDAI, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on March 3, 2012, shows a coastal area dusted with snow in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, nearly a year after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami struck the region.

Konishiki visits quake-hit areas as Santa Claus

Konishiki visits quake-hit areas as Santa Claus

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Children look happy after receiving presents from Konishiki (C back row), a Hawaiian-born sumo wrestler-turned-TV personality, dressed up as Santa Claus, in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on Dec. 8, 2011. Konishiki is touring the Tohoku region, which was severely hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, to give presents to local children.

Stranded train recovered in tsunami-hit Miyagi

Stranded train recovered in tsunami-hit Miyagi

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - A train car is lifted by crane in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, in northeastern Japan, on Dec. 8, 2011, to be loaded onto a trailer. East Japan Railway Co. began work the same day to recover a four-car train, which has been stranded there for nearly nine months since the March earthquake and tsunami, which heavily damaged the rail track and other facilities of the JR Senseki Line connecting Sendai with Ishinomaki.

Disaster relief work by U.S. troops

Disaster relief work by U.S. troops

TOKYO, Japan - U.S. Army personnel stationed in Japan remove debris in quake- and tsunami-hit Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, in April 2011.

Danish prince in tsunami-hit area

Danish prince in tsunami-hit area

HIGASHIMATSUSHIMA, Japan - Danish Crown Prince Frederik (R) visits temporary housing units in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, on June 14, 2011. The area was devastated by the March 11 tsunami.