Emperor Naruhito Expresses Deep Concern for 2011 Disaster Survivors on 66th Birthday

Emperor Naruhito Reflects on Lingering Impact of 2011 Disaster

Emperor Naruhito of Japan marked his 66th birthday on Monday, February 23, 2026, by expressing heartfelt concern for the survivors of the devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. In remarks released for the occasion, just weeks before the March 11 anniversary of the catastrophe, the Emperor emphasized that the emotional and communal 'scars have not healed yet' for many, despite considerable progress in infrastructure reconstruction.

'While recovery of infrastructure has made progress, I feel that reconstruction of livelihoods and community still needs to be addressed,' Naruhito stated. He added, 'As I think of those who lost their loved ones and had to cope with complete change of their living environment, I feel their scars have not healed yet… they stay despite the passage of time.'

The 2011 Triple Disaster: A Look Back

The Great East Japan Earthquake, which struck on March 11, 2011, was a powerful magnitude 9.0-9.1 undersea megathrust earthquake, the strongest ever recorded in Japan. It triggered a catastrophic tsunami, with waves reaching heights of up to 40.5 meters in some areas, that devastated Japan's northeastern coast. The combined natural disasters led to the deaths of nearly 20,000 people, with official figures reporting 19,729 deceased and 2,559 missing.

The tsunami also caused a severe nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, resulting in reactor meltdowns and widespread evacuations. The accident was classified as a Level 7 major accident on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale. Over 100,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes due to the release of radioactive materials. As of May 2023, approximately 30,000 people remained displaced, with about 1,000 still residing in temporary housing. Additionally, 2,313 disaster-related deaths among evacuees from Fukushima prefecture, not directly attributed to radiation or the initial earthquake/tsunami, were identified by September 2020.

Ongoing Recovery and Future Preparedness

Despite significant efforts in rebuilding infrastructure, many communities evacuated due to radiation have seen few residents return, largely due to a lack of jobs and a diminished sense of community. Emperor Naruhito underscored the importance of transmitting the lessons learned from past disasters to younger generations and preparing for future calamities.

He pledged to remain close to the people, sharing their joys and sorrows, and listening to the voices of those in disaster-affected regions, while praying for the absence of future disasters. The Emperor also noted that April will mark the 10th anniversary of the Kumamoto earthquake, which claimed nearly 300 lives, further highlighting Japan's ongoing vulnerability to natural disasters.