Japan struggles with disaster-related deaths 15 years later

Fifteen years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, yet the government's goal of reducing indirect disaster-related deaths to zero remains unachieved. The earthquake and tsunami continue to impact regions like Tohoku and Fukushima.

The Great East Japan Earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, causing massive damage from earthquakes and tsunamis. Now, 15 years later in 2026, the government's declared aim to bring indirect disaster-related deaths to zero appears far from realization. These indirect deaths refer to those stemming not directly from the disaster but from related factors like evacuation hardships or mental strain.

According to The Japan Times, efforts to meet this target continue to face significant challenges. In areas such as Tohoku and Fukushima, recovery progresses, but occurrences of such deaths persist. Despite governmental initiatives, a clear path to zero remains elusive.

This ongoing issue underscores the need for sustained support in the wake of the 3/11 events.

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Elderly lacquerware artisans in trailer workshops amid temporary housing on Noto Peninsula, two years after the earthquake, highlighting recovery struggles.
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Noto peninsula earthquake marks second anniversary amid ongoing challenges

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Two years after the January 1, 2024, Noto Peninsula Earthquake, which caused 698 deaths across three prefectures, about 18,000 people remain in temporary housing in Ishikawa Prefecture. While infrastructure restoration progresses, challenges like population outflow and aging hinder full recovery. In Wajima, production of traditional lacquerware continues in trailer houses.

Memorial events were held across Japan on March 11 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended a ceremony in Fukushima Prefecture, pledging commitment to reconstruction. The government aims to lead recovery from the nuclear disaster and strengthen disaster preparedness.

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Two years after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake struck on January 1, 2024, a memorial ceremony in Ishikawa Prefecture on January 2, 2026, honored victims of the quake and the heavy rains that followed in September 2024. Attendees observed a moment of silence at 4:10 p.m., the exact time of the earthquake. Amid calls for sustainable reconstruction, population decline in affected areas remains a pressing challenge.

On January 4, 2026, a memorial ceremony marking the second anniversary of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake—which struck Ishikawa Prefecture on January 1, 2024, causing widespread devastation—was held in Wajima. The prefecture-hosted event drew 337 attendees, including bereaved families of victims from the quake and subsequent torrential rains, who observed a moment of silence. Survivor Atsuhiko Hayashi shared his remorse over losing his mother.

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Fifteen years after the 2011 disaster, the 21 industrial parks built in Fukushima's coastal municipalities to revitalize the region, backed by generous government incentives, are displaying both successes and ongoing struggles.

Two years after a powerful earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, a facility combining a cafeteria and supermarket is providing essential support to residents in Wajima. Sumika Shibata, a 60-year-old former school lunch cook impacted by the January 1, 2024, disaster, led the establishment of Toge Marche in the city's Toge district in late November.

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Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and their daughter Princess Aiko will visit Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures in Tohoku to mark 15 years since the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The Imperial Household Agency announced the trip on February 26, 2026, with visits to Iwate and Miyagi on March 25-26 and Fukushima on April 6-7 to inspect reconstruction progress and meet affected residents. This will be Princess Aiko's first visit to the three prefectures.

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