Ceremonies to mark the 10th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake saw thousands of participants gather here Monday to share their experiences, their losses and how they managed to overcome the tragedy.
Among the thousands of participants was Tomiko Fujimoto, a 60-year-old woman from Higashi-Nada Ward whose son Naoto died in the quake at age 23.
She said she was wearing some of his clothes, which she and her brother found in the rubble.
"Ten years after the quake, I feel as though I have listened to the voices of 6,433 people, telling us not to forget the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake," Fujimoto said.