Tokyo, 11 mar ( EFE).-A year after the earthquake that triggered the worst crisis in Japan since the 2nd World War, the Government pledged today to accelerate the reconstruction of areas still devastated and make the archipelago a safer place for natural disasters.
Commemorated the anniversary of the catastrophe in Tokyo with a memorial at the National Theatre attended by the dome of the Japanese Executive and the Emperor, Akihito, of 78 years and in the process of recovery after being subjected to a heart operation in February.
On stage, a high altar with the flag of Japan, white chrysanthemums and a monument of wood recalled the 15.854 dead and 3.155 disappeared by the earthquake and the tsunami of a year ago, they triggered the worst nuclear accident since the Chernobyl.
After a minute of silence to the 14.46 (05.46 GMT) local time, the time in which the earthquake measuring 9 on the Richter scale shook Japan, the Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda, recalled to the deceased and those who follow (almost 335,000 people) displaced by the tragedy.
Rigorous mourning dress as the rest of the attendees, Noda pledged to “rebuild as soon as possible” the affected area and also to “recover Fukushima”, where even continued the battle to keep the nuclear power stabilized.
To some 1,200 guests between Ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, representatives of the affected areas, journalists and relatives of the victims, the Prime Minister urged to pass on the lessons of the disaster to future generations.
“We must strengthen measures for prevention, based on this experience, as soon as possible,” insisted Noda, who came to power in September when his predecessor, Naoto Kan, resign by criticism of his management of the crisis.
Also called the unity of the people and thanked the “warm assistance” from foreign countries during the crisis, something that also highlighted the Emperor, Akihito.
The elderly head of the Chrysanthemum throne, with fragile and accompanied by his wife, Empress Michiko, figure made an emotional speech in which thanked “all those who have worked for those affected and to solve the nuclear problem”.
Calm and perseverance of those affected, which stunned the world in the aftermath of the tragedy, her today recalled the Emperor, who stressed that, despite the adversities, the survivors “are getting along” and supporting each other.
According to the Agency of the Imperial House Japan, was the emperor who wanted to be present at the ceremony today despite his delicate health, that by the time keeps you away from other official events while his son, Prince Naruhito, relieves him in this work.
As Noda, the head of State also emphasized the importance of transmitting the experience of the tragedy to succeeding generations and take preventive measures to make a safer territory of Japan.
Located in a highly seismic area, Japan is one of the most prepared countries of the planet before earthquakes, although the magnitude of which took place a year ago and, above all, the powerful tsunami that he followed exceeded all expectations.
After the disaster the country has extreme precautions and prepares a national plan before a possible major earthquake, which refers to the strengthening of infrastructure and communications, in addition to the increase in the number of seismographs in the archipelago.
Other measures include the designation of emergency roads to be used by special disaster vehicles, as well as protocols to expedite the opening of channels of communication in the case of the existing lock.
Prevention measures are joining efforts for reconstruction, something for which the Government has allocated so far four extraordinary budgets by 20.6 trillion yen (about 190,000 million euros) this fiscal year, ending in March.
The psychological recovery of those affected will take much more time, as acknowledged Eriko Okuda, one of the survivors of the Northeast during the Tokyo memorial: “our pain does not disappear never.” “Precisely for that reason, after the tears we must be stronger,” concluded.
Maribel Izcue
Japan Akihito emperors (2i) and Michiko, involved a commemorative event on the first anniversary of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit the northeastern coast of the country, held today in Tokyo (Japan). EFE
