The March 11 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and tsunami left some 27,000 people dead or missing and caused an estimated ¥25 trillion in economic devastation along the northeastern Pacific coastal areas. And the accidents at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant caused radiation leaks and a power supply shortage, adding up to a complex catastrophe with no precedent.

While stricken areas lay in shambles and people remain in misery, the exhausting operation to control the crippled power station has assumed the proportions of a perilous battle that may drag on for many years to come.

Despite this national crisis, some calm has returned to the affected areas after government and nongovernment search, relief and recovery activities gathered momentum. Meanwhile, encouraging messages and support offers have poured in from around the world together. The expectation has risen that people in Japan will surely overcome their hardships and move toward national reconstruction.