Japan marks six months since earthquake

Communities on Japan’s devastated north-east coast came together yesterday to mark six months since the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March.

Thousands also marched in the streets to demand that the country abandon nuclear power because of damage to the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.

At precisely 2:46pm local time, people across the country observed a minute of silence.

Some 20,000 people are dead or missing. More than 800,000 homes were completely or partially destroyed. The disaster crippled businesses, roads and infrastructure. The Japanese Red Cross Society estimates that 400,000 people were displaced.

The Nikkei financial newspaper reported last week that many municipalities in the prefectures of Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima have yet still to draft reconstruction plans.

Of the 31 cities, towns and villages severely damaged by the disaster, just four have finalised their plans, the Nikkei said. The scale of the disaster, the national government’s slow response and quarrels among residents have delayed the rebuilding process.

In Fukushima city, dozens of citizens rallied yesterday outside a government-backed international conference at which scientists agreed that the radiation danger from the nuclear plant was far less than Chernobyl. The protesters accused conference organisers of trying to underestimate the risk for children.

Thousands of anti-nuclear protesters in Tokyo and Osaka demanded the country give up nuclear power. Activists circled the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry with banners saying: “Nuclear power? Goodbye.”

Criticism of the government’s handling of the events led prime minister Naoto Kan to resign. Former finance minister Yoshihiko Noda took over.