and TECH Japan members Suvendrini Kakuchi and Akiko Ozaki show off an apron made at a sewing center for tsunami and civil war survivors here in northern Sri Lanka.

Eight months later, still trying to overcome her grief, Ikehashi, 43, has returned to Sri Lanka -- this time as a member of a nongovernmental organization she helped set up to carry out relief projects in the north to help residents recover from the tsunami's destruction and cope with civil war.

Our Planet

A street in Suttsu, Hokkaido, with a sign put up by an anti-nuclear organization. The small community is considering hosting a facility that would hold nuclear waste.
Ainu land rights in crosshairs as Hokkaido communities debate nuclear waste

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji