Japan prepares to mourn victims of 2011 earthquake and tsunami

Japan on Friday prepared to mourn the thousands who lost their lives in a massive earthquake and tsunami five years ago that turned towns to matchwood and triggered the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

The nine-magnitude quake struck offshore on a chilly Friday, sparking huge black waves along a vast swathe of coastline and killing nearly 20,000 people.

The tsunami crippled the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant, where meltdowns in three reactors spewed radiation over a wide area of the countryside, contaminating water, food and air.

More than 160,000 people were evacuated from nearby towns and some 10 percent still live in temporary housing across Fukushima prefecture. Most have settled outside their hometowns and have begun new lives.

Some areas remain no-go zones due to the high radiation.

In coastal Rikuzentakata, which was flattened by a wave as much as 17 metres (56 ft) high and lost seven percent of its population along with its entire downtown, the pain remains strong.

“The reality is that we still feel the scars here and there are still many who are struggling to restart their lives. So I want people all over to know it’s still too early to forget the disaster,” said 65-year old resident Yashichi Yanashita.

Yanashita was a Rikuzentakata city official when the tsunami hit. His home was destroyed and he has since retired and moved to a nearby town.

“I’m really moved by the people here who remain positive despite it all,” added 56-year-old Setsuko Kibe, a Japanese overseas resident visiting Rikuzentakata for the event.

Billions of dollars in government spending have helped stricken communities rise from the ruins, including elevating the earth to protect them from future waves and cleaning radiation-contaminated land, but much remains to be done for thousands still languishing in barracks-like temporary housing.

Some, such as in the Canadian embassy in Tokyo, held vigils over several days to commemorate what happened five years ago.

More than two hundred lanterns were lined up inside the Embassy compound decorated with messages of hope and support by school children and people from community organizations.

Mayumi Itahashi was one of the people who contributed messages on the lantern to the event.

“It’s been already five years since that disaster, but I also think, it’s only been five years. I was so afraid, even though I was in Tokyo, so I can only imagine how scared the people in Tohoku were. Every day, I cheer for them, but I know that’s not enough, so these kinds of events where we can express our concern for them through lanterns or drawings are great, so I hope more people come,” she said while holding back tears.

All the lanterns were from Natori City, where about 1,000 people lost their lives during the tsunami 5 years ago and the local community still struggles with the reconstruction in the disaster area.

“Reconstruction will take more time. I live in the Kanto region, but I want to help as much as possible,” said Emiri Oda, a young student who added that it feels like the disaster just happened yesterday.

Abe and Emperor Akihito will take part in a ceremony in Tokyo that will include a moment of silence at the time of the quake, 2.46 p.m. (0546 GMT), when bells will ring in the city centre and residents across the nation bow their heads.

Japan, one of the world’s most seismically active areas, will mark the day with prayers and graveside visits. All the trains on the vast Tokyo underground network will halt to mark the moment the quake struck.