Japan will commemorate the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake on 11 March, 2012 which resulted in a massive tsunami that swept away many towns and cities on the east coast of Japan.
Nearly 22,000 people lost their lives in the tsunami and thousands more lost their homes and livelihood.
The 9.0 magnitude earthquake also triggered a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant forcing people to live under fear of radiation.
Here is a relook at the scenes of destruction caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Cars destroyed by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami are seen at a devastated area in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture March 9, 2012, ahead of one-year anniversary of last March 11 earthquake and tsunami.ReutersA man walks past the destroyed Kadonowaki elementary school after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture March 9, 2012.ReutersCars destroyed by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami are seen at a devastated area in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture March 9, 2012.ReutersA man rides his bicycle along an area damaged by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture March 9, 2012.ReutersA man looks for his photographs at a collection centre for items which were found in the rubble of an area devastated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture March 9, 2012.ReutersResidents walk along a temporary shopping centre that has been set up in an area damaged by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture March 9, 2012.ReutersA man looks for his photographs at a collection center for items found in the rubble of an area devastated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture March 9, 2012.Reuters
