Twelve junior high school students from Fukushima Prefecture took part in a special tour of the prime minister's office and residence in Tokyo on Saturday, with Shinzo Abe making a surprise appearance.
The students, from Minamisoma, were visiting at the invitation of the prime minister's office and a nonprofit organization supporting children in the coastal city, which was devastated by the quake and tsunami of March 2011.
While the students were not informed beforehand that the prime minister would be taking part, Abe suddenly appeared and told them he will do his utmost for the reconstruction of Tohoku.
"I hope you will work hard to realize your dreams and to rebuild your hometown," Abe said.
Five of the students are still living in temporary housing, according to the organizers, who said the tour was aimed at encouraging survivors of the 2011 disasters.