Japan, One Year After the March 11 Tsunami: A Revisit

A whirlpool caused by the March 11, 2011 tsunami is seen near Oarai City, Ibaraki prefecture, in this image taken March 11, 2011 (L), with the same area being shown on March 3, 2012, in this combination photo. (REUTERS/KYODO)

The tsunami-devastated Sendai airport in Miyagi prefecture, is seen in these images taken March 11, 2011 (top) and March 2, 2012, in this combination photo. (REUTERS/KYODO)

The tsunami-devastated Kesennuma in Miyagi prefecture is seen in these images taken March 18, 2011 (top) and March 1, 2012. (REUTERS/KYODO)

The tsunami-devastated Kesennuma in Miyagi prefecture is seen in these images taken March 13, 2011 (top) and March 1, 2012. (REUTERS/KYODO)

The tsunami-devastated Yamada town in Iwate prefecture is seen in two images taken on March 14, 2011 (top) and March 1, 2012. (REUTERS/KYODO)

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO)’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is seen in Fukushima prefecture, in aerial shots taken in December 2000 (top) and February 26, 2012. (REUTERS/KYODO)

The combination photograph shows the same location on a street in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on two different dates, March 11, 2011 (top) and February 17, 2012 (bottom). The top photograph shows a wave crashing onto a street after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami, the bottom photograph shows the same location almost a year later. (REUTERS/KYODO)

A combination photograph shows the same location in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on two different dates, March 11, 2011 (top) and February 17, 2012 (bottom). The top photograph shows flooded streets after the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami, the bottom photograph shows the same location almost a year later. (REUTERS/KYODO)

A combination photograph shows the same location in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on two different dates, March 11, 2011 (top) and February 17, 2012. (REUTERS/KYODO)

A combination photograph shows the same location on a street in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on two different dates, March 11, 2011 (top) and February 17, 2012 (bottom). (REUTERS/KYODO)

A combination photograph shows the same location on a street in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on two different dates, March 11, 2011 (top) and February 17, 2012 (bottom). The top photograph shows a tsunami wave crashing onto a street after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, the bottom photograph shows the same location almost a year later. (REUTERS/KYODO)