MEMORIAL EVENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREAT EAST JAPAN EARTHQUAKE OF MARCH 11, 2011

On March 11, 2016, a memorial event on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake was held at the Embassy of Japan, New Delhi. Mr. Tarun Vijay, Hon’ble Member of Rajya Sabha, Mr. Shashidhar Reddy, Former Vice Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority, and Mr. Alok Avasthy, Commandant, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), attended the event as the Guests of Honour. Approximately 60 individuals belonging to the Indian Government and other concerned organizations, who provided immense support to Japan during the difficult time following the disaster, also joined the event.

The event commenced with a silent prayer for the victims of the disaster, and thereafter, a speech was delivered by the Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu, which was followed by a slideshow depicting the warm support from India and the current situation of reconstruction in the Tohoku region. After the speeches by the Guests of Honour, an explanation was made about the situation of the affected area soon after the earthquake by Mr. Takashi Yano, who is from Iwaki city, Fukushima Prefecture and presently lives in India. Lastly, a video-message from Mr. Yoshiaki Suda, Mayor of Onagawa Town, was put on the screen. Onagawa is the town where the NDRF team was dispatched as its very first overseas mission and conducted search and rescue operations for missing persons. The event also featured a display of exhibition panels on the Great East Japan Earthquake, and sweets and Sake from the Tohoku region were served in the event. Through this event, we expressed our gratitude towards the support provided by India and deepened the understanding of our efforts towards reconstruction.

Links of reference:

1 Letter from the Ambassador of Japan on the 5th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake

2 Message of thanks for the support received from India, on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake (published in The Hindustan Times)

１．Silent prayer for the victims of the disaster



２．Speech by the Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu
(Text of the Speech)



3 Speeches by the Guests of Honour

Mr. Tarun Vijay, Hon’ble Member of Rajya Sabha



Mr. Shashidhar Reddy, Former Vice Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority



Mr. Alok Avasthy, Commandant, National Disaster Response Force



4 Explanation about the situation of the affected area soon after the earthquake, by Mr. Takashi Yano, who is from Iwaki city, Fukushima Prefecture, and presently lives in India



5 Video-message from Mr. Yoshiaki Suda, the Mayor of Onagawa town

( Text)



6. Serving of sweets and Sake from the Tohoku region





7. Exhibition of panels on the Great East Japan Earthquake

END