Japan tsunami recovery: Then and now

This combination of pictures shows people walking on a road covered with vehicles and debris in a tsunami-hit area of Tagajo, Miyagi prefecture on March 13, 2011 (left) and the same area on Jan. 12, 2012 (right). March 11, 2012 marks the first anniversary of the massive tsunami that pummeled Japan, claiming more than 19,000 lives.

This combination of pictures shows people lining up to buy food at a supermarket in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture on March 14, 2011 (top) and the same area on Jan. 13, 2012 (bottom). JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images

This combination of pictures shows residents walking on roads covered with mud and debris in a tsunami-hit area of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 14, 2011 (top) and the same area on Jan. 13, 2012 (bottom).

This combination of pictures shows cars piled up in front of the airport control tower in Sendai on March 14, 2011 (left) after a tsunami hit the region and the same area on Jan. 12, 2012 (right).

This combination of pictures shows a private plane, cars and debris outside Sendai Airport in Natori, Miyagi prefecture on March 13, 2011 (top) two days after a tsunami hit the region and the same area on Jan. 12, 2012 (bottom).

This combination of pictures shows debris covering a large tsunami-hit area of Natori, near Sendai in Miyagi prefecture on March 13, 2011 (top) and the same area on Jan. 12, 2012 (bottom).

This combination of pictures shows local residents looking at a tsunami-hit area of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 14, 2011 (left) and the same area on Jan. 12, 2012 (right).

This combination of pictures shows a catamaran sightseeing boat washed by the tsunami onto a two-story tourist home in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture on April 16, 2011 (top) and the same area on Jan. 16, 2012 (bottom).

This combination of pictures shows a ship called Asia Sympathy run aground by the tsunami in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, on March 18, 2011 (top) and the same area on Jan. 16, 2012 (bottom).

This combination of pictures shows a fishing boat lying amongst the tsunami rubble in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture on March 31, 2011 (top) and the same area on Jan. 16, 2012 (bottom).

This combination of pictures shows a cherry blossom tree amongst tsunami devastation in the city of Kamaishi, Iwate prefecture on April 20, 2011 (top) and the same area on Jan. 16, 2012 (bottom).

This combination of pictures shows a tsunami-hit area of Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture on March 22, 2011 (top) and the same area on Jan. 15, 2012 (bottom).

This combination of pictures shows the view of a tsunami-hit area of Ofunato, Iwate prefecture on March 14, 2011 (top) and the same scene as it appears on Jan. 15, 2012 (bottom).

This combination of pictures shows a tsunami hit area of Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture on March 22, 2011 (top) and the same area on Jan. 15, 2012 (bottom).

This combination of pictures shows a 10-metre high pine tree in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture on March 29, 2011 (top) and the same scene as it appears on Jan. 15, 2012 (bottom). It is the only tree to have survived the tsunami among some 70,000 trees located by the seashore to protect from salt, sand and wind damage.

This combination of pictures shows the view of a tsunami-hit area of Ofunato, Iwate prefecture on March 14, 2011 (left) and on Jan. 15, 2012 (right).

This combination of pictures shows the view of a tsunami-hit area of Ofunato, Iwate prefecture on March 14, 2011 (top) and as the scene appears on Jan. 15, 2012 (bottom).

This combination of pictures shows the view of a tsunami-hit street in Ofunato, Iwate prefecture on March 14, 2011 (top) and on Jan. 15, 2012 (bottom).

This combination of pictures shows the view of a tsunami-hit street in Ofunato, Iwate prefecture on March 14, 2011 (top) and the same scene as it appears on Jan. 15, 2012 (bottom). March 11, 2012 marks the first anniversary of the massive tsunami that pummeled Japan, claiming more than 19,000 lives.