Japan
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Photo: Chris Cabatbat/Mercy Corps
Our strategy
Restore jobs and services to coastal towns heavily damaged by the March 2011 tsunami.
The context
One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded triggered a tsunami that killed more than 15,000 people, spurred a nuclear crisis and caused an estimated $235 billion in damages — Japan’s worst disaster since World War II. Entire coastal communities were wiped out by the surging waters.
Our work
- Emergency response: Provided relief supplies to meet the basic needs of 42,000 people living in shelters and helped children heal from trauma after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami
- Economic opportunity: Delivering start-up grants, employment incentives and loan-interest subsidies to encourage new businesses and hiring in tsunami-affected towns
All stories about Japan
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Japan: Signs of progress in tsunami recovery February 7, 2012
I’ve spent about half of my time in Japan since the March 11 tsunami, working with our partners on the various relief and recovery projects. And each visit — whether I’m there a few months or just a couple weeks — presents a new face on the recovery.
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Japan: Snow days in Japan February 6, 2012
As luck would have it, I happen to be visiting the northeastern region of Japan during a record cold spell. In the seven days since I arrived, it has not been above freezing yet. In fact, the temperature hovers around a cool 20 degrees (F).
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Japan: Women back to work as seaweed harvesting begins February 3, 2012
Yesterday I met Hiroko Mirura. In her early 60s, Ms. Mirura is a former scallop merchant, proud wife of a fisherman, and a strong female leader in the town of Minamisanriku.
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Japan: First impressions nearly one year after the tsunami January 31, 2012
Today I arrived at a small fishing town in northeastern Japan called Minamisanriku, which was partially swept away by the March 2011 tsunami.
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Japan: Going back to my tsunami-hit homeland January 23, 2012
When the earthquake and tsunami hit my homeland last March, I was devastated. Though it had been twenty years since I left Japan to move to the US, I knew I had to go back and help.
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Japan: Restarting small businesses November 14, 2011
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Japan: Six months after the quake September 11, 2011
Six months after the massive 9.0 earthquake struck eastern Japan on March 11, Mercy Corps continues to work with our partner agency, Peace Winds Japan, to bring relief and recovery to people in need.
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Japan: Smiling girl displaced by Japanese tsunami August 29, 2011
This was outside an emergency shelter only a few weeks after the tsunami. Just down the hill lay incomprehensible devastation. But this girl showed a smile (a rarity during my visit) as she blew bubbles into the air, anxious for life to return to normal.
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Japan: The journey from donation to voucher to survivor in Japan July 28, 2011
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Japan: Re-opening Ofunato's fish market July 17, 2011
The tsunami poured through the Ofunato fish market, leaving the open-plan structure mostly intact but washing away almost everything within it.