Japan disaster zone celebrates cherry blossom season

[Nasser]

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RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan (AFP) – Victims of Japan's biggest disaster since World War II took a break from the clean-up on Sunday to mark the blossoming of the cherry trees by holding a traditional "hanami" party.
In one of the areas worst hit by the 9.0-magnitude quake and huge tsunami that slammed into Japan's northeast coast on March 11, residents cracked open the sake, held barbecues and sang songs to herald the arrival of spring.
"Hanami", or flower viewing, parties are held every year across Japan to celebrate the moment when the weather begins to warm and the cherry trees come into bloom.
This year's celebrations have been muted by the disaster that struck more than a month ago, killing thousands and sparking the world's worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.
But in the devastated city of Rikuzentakata, where one in 10 residents is estimated to have been killed in the disaster, around 200 survivors celebrated the short-lived floral display that heralds the start of spring.
With the cherry trees just beginning to blossom, men of all ages played traditional drums salvaged from the rubble while others barbecued fish and sang songs.
Takeshi Kanno, 61, said he had initially organised a gathering to mourn the dead and talk about the district's future, but was persuaded to turn it into a hanami party.
He said elderly people in the community had at first been reluctant, but enjoyed the party in the end.
"People came from other cities to perform their arts and encourage us. They said we would work to rebuild the region together," he added.
Rikuzentakata was one of the cities worst hit by the earthquake and tsunami, which killed at least 13,705 people, with more than 14,000 more still missing.
An estimated 90 percent of the city was destroyed by the tsunami, and bodies are still being found under the rubble.


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[gpcortes07]

maayo nalang kalimot usa sila bisan kadali sa disaster nga nahappen nila.

[GOSPELofROCH]

Another Update:

Japan sends robots in to stricken nuclear plant - Yahoo! News



nagka cool ang Japan, I hope this is not a mobile suit or a Gundam

[Tre]

grabe ka hightech jud ang japan no gamit na cla ug robot kay sa US wla man jud na...

[shebacs]

Another Update:

Japan sends robots in to stricken nuclear plant - Yahoo! News



nagka cool ang Japan, I hope this is not a mobile suit or a Gundam

[peewee_toot]

Another Update:

Japan sends robots in to stricken nuclear plant - Yahoo! News



nagka cool ang Japan, I hope this is not a mobile suit or a Gundam

hurot na akong bilib ani nila dah. chuya!

[LytSlpr]

grabe ka hightech jud ang japan no gamit na cla ug robot kay sa US wla man jud na...

mas hightech ang U.S. kay cyborgs ang gipadala, robot-like humans. (pun intended)

[rjgo_1979]

well, at least they have something to celebrate about....