Japan: One year after the quake and tsunami

The photo shows a cemetery in Sendai, Japan, the town that was hit by a tsunami on March 11, 2011, killing at least 15,000 people, and causing hundreds of thousands to loose their homes. Japan has spent a year cleaning up the damage.

Video: Japan: One year after the quake and tsunami
Japan still recovering a year after tsunami

The photo shows one man's shrine to family members lost in the 2011 tsunami. At least 15,000 people lost their lives in Japan and a total of 3,000 people are still missing. March 11, 2012 marks the first anniversary of the massive tsunami that pummeled Japan.

Video: Japan: One year after the quake and tsunami
Japan still recovering a year after tsunami

One year after the tsunami struck the coast of Japan 100,000 people are still living in temporary housing. The tsunami's destruction was so massive that Japan spent the last year cleaning up.

Video: Japan: One year after the quake and tsunami
Japan still recovering a year after tsunami

A total of 100,000 people are still living in temporary housing since the tsunami's destruction.

Video: Japan: One year after the quake and tsunami
Japan still recovering a year after tsunami

The tsunami struck the coast of Japan leaving over 22 million tons of debris.The tsunami's destruction was so massive that Japan spent the last year cleaning up.

Video: Japan: One year after the quake and tsunami
Japan still recovering a year after tsunami

The tsunami caused salt water to leave 58,000 acres of farmland unusable.

Video: Japan: One year after the quake and tsunami
Japan still recovering a year after tsunami

The tsunami left mountains of destruction. Japan has spent the last year it cleaning up.

Video: Japan: One year after the quake and tsunami
Japan still recovering a year after tsunami

The tsunami destroyed over 400 miles of coastline. In some places, the damage was up to three miles inland.

Year after Japan tsunami, precious photos saved
Video: Photos salvaged from tsunami ruins in Japan

The tsunami destroyed over 400 miles of coastline. In its wake, over 22 million tons of debris was left piled up.

Year after Japan tsunami, precious photos saved
Video: Photos salvaged from tsunami ruins in Japan

Japan has many restoration projects under way. In one town, people are looking for photographs lost in the tsunami to make sure memories are not lost.

Year after Japan tsunami, precious photos saved
Video: Photos salvaged from tsunami ruins in Japan

Roughly 350,000 photos have been rescued from the mountains of debris left from the tsunami.

Year after Japan tsunami, precious photos saved
Video: Photos salvaged from tsunami ruins in Japan

Japan has many restoration projects under way, including this photo restoration project in one town.

Year after Japan tsunami, precious photos saved
Video: Photos salvaged from tsunami ruins in Japan

A group of people have been restoring photographs lost in the disaster. They put the soggy, muddy photos into freezers to stop mold from growing, then gently clean them in water. Once dry, the photos are taken around to temporary housing blocks and put on display in the community center for people to identify and claim.

Year after Japan tsunami, precious photos saved
Video: Photos salvaged from tsunami ruins in Japan

No place was hit harder by the tsunami than the city of Ishinomaki, and no place in town was harder hit than the Okawa school, where 74 children and 10 teachers died.

Special Sectional: Disaster in Japan

Part of the bridge remains in the Ishinomaki river from when the tsunami hit the Northeastern city in Japan.

Special Sectional: Disaster in Japan

The children at the Okawa school lined up in an low level open field after the earthquake. A tsunami wave swept them away.

Special Sectional: Disaster in Japan

In Ishinomaki a total of 3,182 people died in the tsunami. Crews are still searching for 533 missing people.

Special Sectional: Disaster in Japan

In this photo is a shrine to the 74 children who died at the Okawa school due to the tsunami.

Special Sectional: Disaster in Japan

The children did what they'd been taught. When the earthquake hit they ducked under their desks. When it was over they came out to the playground, into the open to be safe from aftershocks. They were all lined up here as instructed when the tsunami washed in, sweeping 74 children and 10 teachers to their deaths.

Special Sectional: Disaster in Japan

Pictured is the Ishinomaki river where the tsunami wave came into the town killing a total of 3,182 people.

Special Sectional: Disaster in Japan