Japan's barren tsunami coast 2 years on

Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty?spaces.

In dozens of towns along the country's northeastern Pacific coast, from tiny Ryoishi in the north to Fukushima farther south, where some areas remain off-limits due to radiation fears, the tsunami zone remains a wasteland.

Photo: Junji Kurokawa

Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered...

In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 photo, a woman offers a prayer in front of a make-shift alter for the victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan next week, will observe two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 photo, a woman offers a prayer in...

In this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 photo, a man inspects a fishing boat which was washed ashore during the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan will next week observes two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: AP

In this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 photo, a man inspects a fishing boat...

In this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 photo, new fishing boats with bamboo trees erected as a Shinto ritual, are anchored at a port awaiting departure for fishing in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. The port was heavily damaged and many fishing boats were lost following the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Japan next week will observe two years from the disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 photo, new fishing boats with bamboo...

This Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 photo shows an area devastated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan will next week observes two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

This Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 photo shows an area devastated by the...

In this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 photo, a new fishing boat is anchored at a port behind a net to keep off trespassing as the damaged pier is under reconstruction after the March 11, 2011 tsunami, in Kesennuma, Miyagi Preecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan will next week observes two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 photo, a new fishing boat is anchored...

In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 photo, portrait of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami survivors are put on the wall in Kesennuma, Muyagi Prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan next week, will observe two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 photo, portrait of the March 11,...

In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 photo, an area devastated by the March 11, 2011 earth quake and tsunami is seen from a higher place in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan will next week observes two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 photo, an area devastated by the...

In this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 photo, a deserted train station is covered by snow in an area devastated by the March 11 2011 earthquake and tsunami, in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan will next week observes two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 photo, a deserted train station is...

In this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 photo, a make-shift convenience store stands in an area devastated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan will next week observes two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 photo, a make-shift convenience store...

In this Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 photo, foundations of houses are seen in an area devastated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan will next week observes two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 photo, foundations of houses are...

In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 photo, loading shovels sort out concrete and steel debris left after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, at a scrapheap in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan will next week observes two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 photo, loading shovels sort out...

In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 photo, a temple gate stands in an area devastated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan will next week observes two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 photo, a temple gate stands in an...

In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 photo, standing by a signboard reading: "Rikuzentakata City Hall," a worker holds flags to control traffic under cold weather in a street near a new road construction site in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan next week, will observe two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 photo, standing by a signboard...

In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 photo, workers repair a main road damaged by the March 11, 2011 earthquake near a newly installed domed lettuce green house in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan next week, will observe two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 photo, workers repair a main road...

In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 photo, a man walks by a disaster control center in an area devastated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan next week, will observe two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 photo, a man walks by a disaster...

In this Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 photo, a March 11, 2011 tsunami survivor Hide Sato, 83, sits in a small room she is allotted for one person at a temporary shelter housing complex in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture. Japan's progress in rebuilding from the tsunami that thundered over coastal sea walls, sweeping entire communities away, is mainly measured in barren foundations and empty spaces. Clearing of forests on higher ground due to be leveled to make space for relocating survivors has barely begun. Japan will next week observes two years from the March 11, 2011 disasters which devastated in the northeastern Pacific coast of the country. Photo: Junji Kurokawa

In this Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 photo, a March 11, 2011 tsunami...

Source: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/slideshow/Japan-s-barren-tsunami-coast-2-years-on-57864.php

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