March 11 is etched in Japan's collective consciousness. Sunday, on the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, which triggered the starkest crisis our country has faced in a generation, we commemorated all of those who suffered. Our thoughts went out to all of the victims of the tragedy and to people around the world whose lives have been devastated by natural disasters.

We will not forget the loved ones, friends and colleagues lost in the disaster. Nor will we forget the outpouring of support and international expressions of solidarity that Japan received. For this, we feel deeply indebted and forever appreciative.

Japan has made remarkable progress over the past 12 months. We now renew our commitment to learn from the great difficulties we have faced. I firmly believe that this period of difficulty must, and will, come to mark the start of a full-fledged revitalization of Japan.