March 11, 2012

Sunday 3/11/12 was the one year memorial of Japan's Great Earthquake & Tsunami of 3/11/11. During the 9.0 earthquake & subsequent tsunami, 19,000 people died or disappeared from coastal areas of several northeastern prefectures. Entire villages were wiped out. Since we stayed home on Sunday, we turned on the TV to see what would be broadcast in Japan to commemorate this tragedy. These are photos I took of TV of the stage area alter and decorations where the memorial occurred in Tokyo, and was broadcast live on every Japanese channel on Sunday afternoon.


I thought the stage display was very beautiful and artistic - the horizontal rows seem to represent the tsunami waves to me, with the Japanese flag above the sign in the center.


Oh wow! Those rows are made of fresh white flowers - beautiful!


Center of the display. The crinkly blue looks like water to me.


Representatives of survivors and families from the stricken areas, along with members of Parliament were in attendance.


There was one minute of silence for prayers all over Japan at 2:46, during which time sirens rang out across the entire country. We opened our doors and heard them in the Japanese neighborhood just outside the fence of the base. I caught the time on our digital clock just as it changed to 2:47.


Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda spoke. “Our forebears, who led our country to prosperity, stood up with brave resolution in times of crisis,” he said.


But he had his back to the audience and addressed the display on stage. When finished, he bowed deeply in memory of those who perished.


A few minutes later, His Royal Highness Emperor Akihito and Her Imperial Majesty Empress Michiko (both 78 this year) came on stage and were seated. I was surprised because I know he had had heart bypass surgery only a couple of weeks earlier.


Interesting shot of their very deep bows - amazing!


They also stood and faced the memorial while he spoke. Of course as they walked across stage, she was a few steps behind him.


Closeup view of Emperor and Empress as he spoke. Japan should “build a country where people can live safely,” Emperor Akihito said during a speech at the National Theater in Tokyo yesterday. Read more HERE about the Emperor and Empress, and HERE about the ceremony.


Prime Minister Noda bows before Their Majesties.


There were other ceremonies happening all over Japan, and this is one in one of the many disaster areas. The speakers were standing in front of a bank of clocks - all stopped at 2:46 or shortly thereafter - no doubt recovered from the rubble.


This gorgeous painting of a major tsunami (not sure which one) was also on display at one of the memorial services. Much of what was said, we had to figure out, since Americable has taken away our NHK world channel that used to transmit in English!

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