One year ago today, Japan's north-east coast was overwhelmed with a 9.0 earthquake, a catastrophic tsunami and a triple nuclear meltdown – a crushing series of events that left thousands dead and homeless. An expression commonly heard subsequently was 'gambaru' – to tough it out. While a terrible stillness still afflicts Japan today, the country continues to rebuild itself – and amid the murk, a picture of possibility emerges.
Photo by Lee Hoagland, styling by Mathew Kurian / The National
