Spring dawns on a shattered Japan. "Not since World War II" is a recurring phrase, and no wonder. Mass destruction accompanied by radiation — what other analogy is big enough?
It isn't perfect, but it does shed some light. Japan then — militarist, statist, imperialist — and Japan now — aging, floundering, depressed — are vastly different but have this in common: ashes from which to rise. Disaster, man-made or natural, is a kick in the teeth. It's also, potentially, a stimulating kick in the butt.
So it proved postwar. So may it prove postquake.