March 11 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami...., 2011 (photo)

March 11 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Measuring 9, biggest ever to hit Japan destroying the NE coast line cities and villages for 200 plus miles. Rikuzentakata was famous for it's pine forests all washed away except for this one red pine tree which had already had log barriers and ribbons placed at it's base to indicate it's value. shot from hotel falling into sea. The Miracle Pine of Rikuzentakata (pictured here in March 2011), was the lone survivor of a shoreline forest of 70,000 trees after the epic tsunami blasted Tohoku, Japan three years ago this month. The tree quickly became a symbol of the Japanese determination to rebuild after the disaster. Sadly, a year later, it succumbed to the ravages of salt water to its roots. I belatedly learned that the tree was reconstituted, with resin sealers and a metal skeleton for support, as a sculpture that now stands in the spot where the tree defied the sea as a symbol of hope. Photo by Michael Yamashita