Japan earthquake and tsunami: Before and after the cleanup
March 11 marks the third anniversary of the massive earthquake and tsunami that pummeled Japan, killing more than 20,000 people. Photographers for AFP/Getty Images and Kyodo News revisited the disaster scenes in 2013 to show the changes over the last two years.
- Share via
Drag the slider to compare the images.


Before: The No. 18 Kyotokumaru fishing vessel was swept away from a port in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture. This is the scene on March 12, 2011. (Kyodo News).
After: March 4, 2013. (Kyodo News)


Before: A view of Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, on March 19, 2011. (Kyodo News).
After: March 1, 2013. (Kyodo News)


Before: Aerial view of Sendai Airport in Natori, Miyagi prefecture, on March 11, 2011. (Kyodo News)
After: March 4, 2013. (Kyodo News)


Before: The baggage claim area at Sendai Airport in Natori, Miyagi prefecture, on March 17, 2011. (Kyodo News)
After: Feb. 28, 2013. (Kyodo News)


Before: A sightseeing catamaran washed ashore by the tsunami sits on a tourist home in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture, on April 16, 2011. (Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP/Getty Images).
After: Jan. 16, 2012. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images)


Before: Waves breech an embankment in Miyako, Iwate prefecture, on March 11, 2011. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images).
After: Jan. 16, 2012. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images)


Before: Rikuzentakata city, Iwate prefecture, on March 22, 2011. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images)
After: Jan. 15, 2012. (Nicolas Asfouri / AFP/Getty Images)


Before: Ofunato, Iwate prefecture, on March 14, 2011. (Toshifumi Kitamura / AFP/Getty Images)
After: Jan. 15, 2012. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images)


Before: The ship Asia Sympathy is grounded in Kamaishi, Iwate prefecture, on March 18, 2011. (Roslan Rahman / AFP/Getty Images)
After: Jan. 16, 2012. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images)


Before: Ofunato, Iwate prefecture, on March 14, 2011. (Toshifumi Kitamura / AFP/Getty Images)
After: Jan. 15, 2012. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images)


Before: Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, on March 22, 2011. (Nicolas Asfouri / AFP/Getty Images).
After: Jan. 15, 2012. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images)


Before: A fishing boat lies among tsunami debris in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture, on March 31, 2011. (Toshifumi Kitamura / AFP/Getty Images)
After: Jan. 16, 2012. (Toshifumi Kitamura / AFP/Getty Images)


Before: Tagajo, Miyagi prefecture, on March 13, 2011. (Kim Jae-Hwan / AFP/Getty Images)
After: Jan. 12, 2012. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images)


Before: Outside Sendai Airport in Natori, Miyagi prefecture, on March 13, 2011. (Mike Clarke / AFP/Getty Images)
After: Jan. 12, 2012. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images)


Before: Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, on March 15, 2011. (Kim Jae-Hwan / AFP/Getty Images)
After: Jan. 13, 2012. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images)


Before: Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, on March 15, 2011. (Philippe Lopez / AFP/Getty Images)
After: Jan. 13, 2012. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images)


Before: Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, as seen from a hill on March 16, 2011. (Philippe Lopez / AFP/Getty Images)
After: Jan. 14, 2012. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images)
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.