A public elementary school building in Miyagi Prefecture where more than 80 pupils and teachers lost their lives in the 2011 tsunami is scheduled to open possibly in April as a memorial to those impacted by the disaster.
Okawa Elementary School, located about 4 kilometers from the coast, will have exhibits to remember the calamity that beset the area on March 11, 2011, as well as an area where visitors can pray for the victims.
The municipal government of Ishinomaki decided in March 2016 to preserve the school. But opinions are divided among residents, with some bereaved families saying they cannot bear the sight of the building.