Park Fully Opens In 2011 Disaster - Hit Site
A park symbolizing recovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan has fully opened in Minamisanriku Town in Miyagi Prefecture.
The opening ceremony was held on Monday after the construction of all areas of the park had been completed.
More than 800 people in the town died in the disaster. Among them, 43 perished at the town's disaster-preparedness office, which was located in what is now the park.
Town Mayor Sato Jin told the gathering that he hopes the park will serve as a venue to remember the victims and play a role to pass down lessons learned from the disaster to future generations.
With the park's full opening, visitors can now approach the remaining structure of the devastated office. An area for floral offerings was also set up nearby.
A man in his 70s said seeing the former office makes him sad because he remembers what had happened at the time, but said he appreciates having a place to pray for the victims.
A bridge connecting the park and a shopping area across a river also opened.
Kumagai Kazuyoshi runs a stationery store in the shopping area. He lost his younger brother who worked at the office.
He said the remains of the office are preserved for the repose of the victims' soul, but he also hopes visitors will get a sense of the threat of a tsunami.
