tidal waves..
cherry blossoms fall
to the coldest night
- Wahyu J. Basjir
Ten weeks after the March 11th 2011 Tsunami and earthquake devastated Northern Japan, much the area is still in ruins. Cleanup efforts are just beginning to get underway even as bodies continue to be found. Thousands are still living in shelters as they scramble to re-organize their lives and cope with the mass loss of loved ones. Structures lay in heaps as they were hit by the one-two punch of earthquake and tsunami.On the rugged coastline of Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures, the inlets home to fishing villages became deadly traps as the force of the tsunami was concentrated like water in a funnel. The damage and death toll was catastrophic. Ofunato has 8,000 dead alone.