Sadako's brother in N.Y. to spread paper cranes' message

Sadako's brother in N.Y. to spread paper cranes' message

NEW YORK, United States - Masahiro Sasaki (R), the older brother of Sadako, who died a decade after the atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima during World War II, and Lee Ielpi of the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, show a paper crane folded by Sadako.

9/11 group seeks continued support for Tohoku disaster victims

9/11 group seeks continued support for Tohoku disaster victims

TOKYO, Japan - Lee Ielpi (far L), head of the September 11th Families' Association, meets reconstruction minister Tatsuo Hirano (R) in Tokyo on Oct. 26, 2012. Bereaved families of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States called for continued support for survivors of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit eastern and northeastern Japan in their meeting with the Japanese minister.

Students from quake-hit Tohoku visit Ground Zero in N.Y.

Students from quake-hit Tohoku visit Ground Zero in N.Y.

NEW YORK, United States - Tsubasa Sugeno (L), a university student hailing from Nihonmatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, and Lee Ielpi, president of the September 11th Families' Association, trace together names of Japanese victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks engraved on the stone monument at the World Trade Center site in New York on Aug. 13, 2012. Students hailing from the prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima, which were severely hit by the 2011 March earthquake and tsunami disasters, visited the site and met the bereaved families of the 9/11 victims.

Students from quake-hit Tohoku visit Ground Zero in N.Y.

Students from quake-hit Tohoku visit Ground Zero in N.Y.

NEW YORK, United States - Ayaka Ogawa (L), who graduated from a senior high school in Iwate Prefecture, and Lee Ielpi, president of the September 11th Families' Association, trace together names of Japanese victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks engraved on the stone monument at the World Trade Center site in New York on Aug. 13, 2012. Students hailing from the prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima, which were severely hit by the 2011 March earthquake and tsunami disasters, visited the site and met the bereaved families of the 9/11 victims.

Decade later, 4 New York lives forever transformed by 9/11

Decade later, 4 New York lives forever transformed by 9/11

NEW YORK, United States - Retired firefighter Lee Ielpi stands on July 7, 2011 in front of a display holding his son Jonathan's New York Fire Department jacket and helmet at the Tribute WTC Visitor Center he helped found. Ielpsi's son was found in what was identified as a South Tower stairwell three months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. (Kyodo)

9/11 Tribute Museum completes in NY

9/11 Tribute Museum completes in NY

Lee Ielpi (far R), who lost his firefighter son in the Sept. 11 terror attacks, explains about exhibitions at the 9/11 Tribute Museum in New York on June 13, 2017. The museum hands down stories of the victims, survivors and their families. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

9/11 Tribute Museum completes in NY

9/11 Tribute Museum completes in NY

Lee Ielpi, who lost his firefighter son in the Sept. 11 terror attacks, addresses a ceremony in New York on June 13, 2017, to celebrate the completion of the 9/11 Tribute Museum, which hands down stories of the victims, survivors and their families. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo