Published on May 2, 2014 by Noguchi Katsuya
2015Version
https://vimeo.com/126904080
In 2011 a magnitude 9 megathrust earthquake off the pacific coast of Japan known as” the Great East Japan Earthquake” hit Japan. It was the largest earthquake in Japanese history (4th largest in recorded world history) and its force moved the main Island (Honsu) 2.4 meters East shifting the earths axis 10 cm. The Quake triggered a tsunami which devastated north eastern Japan.
This footage of Fukashima is taken in Spring 3 years on.
Wide areas of the city were destroyed badly by the tsunami and although parts of the city are recovering gradually, there is little or no effort placed on the monumental effort to rebuild after such devastation.Sadly the Fukushima region has now been determined uninhabitable as nationally Japan comes to terms with the enormity of the decimation and loss of life.Some regions have lower numerical values of the radiation displayed on public indicators. There is still much official restrictive secrecy from the intrusive realisation of unhindered public cameras seeking truth.
Great tracts of the once busy landscape are desolate and uninhabitable. Residence is restricted to defined areas like Tomioka town, Fukushima Prefecture .The Famous cherry blossom trees, once admired by people celebrating their beauty in bloom before the disaster, now flourish in the stillness of the deserted post earthquake, apocalyptic landscape.
My hope is that one day after years or several decades people will return to their hometown that was lost to the fury of nature . The Traces of tsunami cannot by human hands be put neatly away , they gather under the beauty of the spring blossoming cherry tree as requiem and in great hope for the future.