Current Watch Site

On March 11, 2011, a powerful earthquake struck the northeast coast of Japan. In the wake of the related catastrophic tsunami, many thousands lost their lives and millions lost electricity and water for a considerable period. In response to this humanitarian crisis the recovery effort was prompt, but it is expected to take many years to return many communities to a stable condition. (...)

On March 11, 2011, a powerful earthquake struck the northeast coast of Japan. In the wake of the related catastrophic tsunami, many thousands lost their lives and millions lost electricity and water for a considerable period. In response to this humanitarian crisis the recovery effort was prompt, but it is expected to take many years to return many communities to a stable condition.
The repair and restoration of built heritage has proved to be an important social element for communities recovering from disaster. According to Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, more than 700 national landmarks were damaged by the recent earthquake, most located in the Tōhoku and Kantō regions. In addition to these sites, many other traditional buildings and historic townscapes were damaged, in places like the coastal city of Kesennuma in the Tōhoku region. Although traditional Japanese architecture is known to withstand earthquakes, in this instance the force of the earthquake and tsunami was so severe, countless historic buildings suffered from damage, deformation, and partial or complete collapse.