Nobiru Elementary School, Higashi Matsushima

2 and a half years has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, children still study at temporary prefabricated school yet.

 On March 11, 2011, at 2:46 p.m., a big earthquake of magnitude 9.0 on Richter scale, followed by a gigantic tidal wave or tsunami, hit vast areas in East Japan.  It caused a tremendous damage: 15,846 people died while 3,317 others are still reported missing (figures provided by the government on February 8, 2012).  Huge tsunami that rushed to the Pacific coast of the Main Island (Honshu) utterly destroyed and washed away many towns and villages, claiming a large number of human lives.  The disaster also took away from those who narrowly escaped death their houses, their jobs and their peaceful day-to-day life with all the fond memories.