Disaster recovery exhibition at Osaka expo

Disaster recovery exhibition at Osaka expo

Turin Olympics figure skating gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa (2nd from R) poses in front of a "digital monument" at the World Exposition in Osaka on May 19, 2025, as an exhibition highlighting the recovery of the three northeastern Japan prefectures severely affected by the March 2011 earthquake-tsunami disaster begins the same day. Shown on the screen is the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by tsunami in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture.

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2025, the 14th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2025, the 14th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2025, the 14th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2025, the 14th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2025, the 14th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2025, the 14th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

14th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2025, the 14th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Japan: Wildfires Rage In Ofunato, Prompting Hundreds To Evacuate 2

Firefighting is ongoing as wildfires rage in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan. The fire in Ayasato has burned over 600 hectares as of Wednesday afternoon, February 26, damaging more than 84 homes. Around 250 people have been evacuated from the district.

Forest fire in northeastern Japan

Forest fire in northeastern Japan

A helicopter drops water on Feb. 26, 2025, to extinguish a forest fire that started the day before on a mountain in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture in northeastern Japan.

Forest fire in northeastern Japan

Forest fire in northeastern Japan

A helicopter drops water on Feb. 26, 2025, to extinguish a forest fire that started the day before on a mountain in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture in northeastern Japan.

Forest fire in northeastern Japan

Forest fire in northeastern Japan

Smoke rises from a forest fire on a mountain near houses in Rikuzentakata in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Iwate on Feb. 25, 2025.

Baseball: Dodgers agree to terms with Japanese star pitcher Sasaki+

Baseball: Dodgers agree to terms with Japanese star pitcher Sasaki+

A man (R) receives a copy of Iwate Nippo newspaper's extra edition in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on Jan. 18, 2025, printed to mark Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki, who hails from the northeastern Japan city, agreeing to terms with Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers.

13th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

13th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2024, the 13th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

13th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

13th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2024, the 13th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

13th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

13th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2024, the 13th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

13th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

13th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2024, the 13th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

13th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

13th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2024, the 13th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Iwate Pref. city mascot visits quake-hit city in Hyogo Pref.

Iwate Pref. city mascot visits quake-hit city in Hyogo Pref.

Takata-no-Yumechan, the official mascot of Rikuzentakata, a northeastern Japan city hit by the March 2011 quake-tsunami disaster, prays at a memorial monument at a park in Awaji, a Hyogo Prefecture city devastated by the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, on Oct. 27, 2023.

Iwate Pref. city mascot visits quake-hit city in Hyogo Pref.

Iwate Pref. city mascot visits quake-hit city in Hyogo Pref.

Takata-no-Yumechan, the official mascot of Rikuzentakata, a northeastern Japan city hit by the March 2011 quake-tsunami disaster, offers flowers at a memorial monument at a park in Awaji, a Hyogo Prefecture city devastated by the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, on Oct. 27, 2023.

Japanese emperor, empress at tree-planting ceremony

Japanese emperor, empress at tree-planting ceremony

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (L) attends a national tree-planting ceremony with Empress Masako, not pictured, in Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on June 4, 2023.

Japanese emperor, empress at tree-planting ceremony

Japanese emperor, empress at tree-planting ceremony

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (C) attends a national tree-planting ceremony with Empress Masako, not pictured, in Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on June 4, 2023.

Japanese emperor, empress at tree-planting ceremony

Japanese emperor, empress at tree-planting ceremony

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (front) and Empress Masako attend a national tree-planting ceremony in Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on June 4, 2023.

Japanese emperor, empress at tree-planting ceremony

Japanese emperor, empress at tree-planting ceremony

Japanese Emperor Naruhito addresses a national tree-planting ceremony in Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on June 4, 2023. Empress Masako is also pictured with the emperor.

Japanese emperor, empress at tree-planting ceremony

Japanese emperor, empress at tree-planting ceremony

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attend a national tree-planting ceremony in Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on June 4, 2023.

Japanese emperor at tree-planting ceremony

Japanese emperor at tree-planting ceremony

Japanese Emperor Naruhito addresses a national tree-planting ceremony in Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on June 4, 2023.

Japanese emperor, empress in tsunami-hit city

Japanese emperor, empress in tsunami-hit city

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (2nd from R) and Empress Masako visit a tsunami memorial museum in Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on June 3, 2023. (Pool photo)

Japanese emperor, empress in tsunami-hit city

Japanese emperor, empress in tsunami-hit city

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visit a tsunami memorial museum in the city of Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on June 3, 2023. (Pool photo)

Japanese emperor, empress in tsunami-hit city

Japanese emperor, empress in tsunami-hit city

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako offer flowers at a cenotaph for tsunami victims in a memorial park in the Iwate Prefecture city of Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, on June 3, 2023. (Pool photo)

Japanese emperor, empress in tsunami-hit city

Japanese emperor, empress in tsunami-hit city

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako bow at a cenotaph for tsunami victims in a memorial park in the Iwate Prefecture city of Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, on June 3, 2023. (Pool photo)

12th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

12th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

People pray in the Iwate Prefecture city of Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, on March 11, 2023, the 12th anniversary of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that devastated the country's northeast.

12th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

12th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

A man looks up at the monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the 2011 deadly tsunami in the Iwate Prefecture city of Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, on March 11, 2023, the 12th anniversary of the disaster.

12th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

12th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

People pray in the Iwate Prefecture city of Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, on March 11, 2023, the 12th anniversary of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that devastated the country's northeast. The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami can be seen in the background.

12th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

12th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

A woman prays on a beach in the Iwate Prefecture city of Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, on March 11, 2023, the 12th anniversary of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that devastated the country's northeast.

12th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

12th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

The monument to the "Miracle Pine," the only tree that survived in a coastal forest flattened by the deadly tsunami in March 2011 in northeastern Japan, is pictured in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2023, the 12th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

12th anniversary of 2011 disaster

12th anniversary of 2011 disaster

Photo taken on March 9, 2023, shows the monument to the "Miracle Pine" in Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, the only tree in a coastal forest that was not flattened by the deadly tsunami on March 11, 2011.

12th anniversary of 2011 disaster

12th anniversary of 2011 disaster

Photo taken on March 9, 2023, shows the monument to the "Miracle Pine" in Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, the only tree in a coastal forest that was not flattened by the deadly tsunami on March 11, 2011.

12th anniversary of 2011 disaster

12th anniversary of 2011 disaster

Photo taken on March 9, 2023, shows the monument to the "Miracle Pine" in Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, the only tree in a coastal forest that was not flattened by the deadly tsunami on March 11, 2011.

12th anniversary of 2011 disaster

12th anniversary of 2011 disaster

A woman looks out at the sea on March 9, 2023, beside the monument to the "Miracle Pine" in Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, the only tree in a coastal forest that was not flattened by the deadly tsunami on March 11, 2011.

Tohoku firm on track for recovery

Tohoku firm on track for recovery

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan - Aki Murakami (L) and Akie Hoshi, who started work at Yagisawa Shoten after the March 2011 disaster, showcase products of the established maker and seller of soy sauce and miso at the company in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture on Jan. 31, 2013.

Restoration of 'miracle pine'

Restoration of 'miracle pine'

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan - A part of the trunk of the "miracle pine" that initially withstood the massive March 2011 tsunami is suspended from a crane to be planted into the ground in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on Feb. 12, 2013, as restoration of the tree reached the final stage. The remnants of the tree were dissected in September 2012 into several parts for anti-decay treatment.

Last of 2011 quake debris from Iwate heads to Tokyo

Last of 2011 quake debris from Iwate heads to Tokyo

MORIOKA, Japan - The last batch of debris caused by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami is loaded onto a container in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on the morning of Jan. 31, 2014, for disposal in Tokyo. The Tokyo metropolitan government has been engaged in the disposal of such debris in support of reconstruction efforts in the disaster-hit Tohoku region.

Final debris from 2011 disaster leaves for Tokyo

Final debris from 2011 disaster leaves for Tokyo

MORIOKA, Japan - A truck carrying the final batch of wreckage from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami leaves for Tokyo from a debris collection and selection site in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 31, 2014.

10th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

10th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan, March 11 Kyodo - People pray facing the sea in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, at 2:47 p.m. on March 11, 2021, one minute after a massive earthquake struck northeastern Japan exactly 10 years ago, triggering a killer tsunami.

Photo of disaster victim among new adults at ceremony

Photo of disaster victim among new adults at ceremony

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan - Kaito Sugawara (C, front row) holds a photo of his friend Hiroki Sugawara killed in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami during a coming-of-age ceremony in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 11, 2015.

New adults in quake-hit city pray for disaster victims

New adults in quake-hit city pray for disaster victims

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan - Participants in a coming-of-age ceremony held in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on Jan. 11, 2015, observe a moment of silence for victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit the northeastern Japan region of Tohoku.

Vistors view huge belt conveyor in quake-hit area

Vistors view huge belt conveyor in quake-hit area

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan - Visitors walk along a huge belt conveyor stretching some 3 kilometers in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, in this file photo taken on Nov. 11, 2014. Tours to view the conveyor as a symbol of reconstruction work from damage caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami started the same month.

Visitors to huge belt conveyor get sunflower seeds

Visitors to huge belt conveyor get sunflower seeds

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan - A tourist association in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, offers bottles of sunflower seeds, as shown in this file photo taken on Nov. 11, 2014, to participants in a tour of a huge belt conveyor seen as a symbol of reconstruction work from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Association officials hope visitors will remember the city when sunflowers bloom in early summer.

PM Abe visits disaster-hit Iwate

PM Abe visits disaster-hit Iwate

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) visits a temporary housing facility for evacuees from the 2011 natural disaster in the northeastern Japan city of Rikuzentakata on Nov. 26, 2014. The visit comes shortly before the Dec. 14 general election.

Iwate Nippo daily reopens bureau in quake-hit town

Iwate Nippo daily reopens bureau in quake-hit town

MORIOKA, Japan - Newspaper publisher Iwate Nippo Co., based in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, holds a ceremony in Rikuzentakata on Oct. 8, 2014, to commemorate the completion of a new local bureau office replacing its predecessor severely damaged by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan.