On March 11, 2011, a tsunami was triggered by a magnitude 9 earthquake that struck 130 km off the coast of Northern Japan and swept across the coast of Northern Honshu, destroying all in its path. A year later, thousands of photographs, slowly deteriorating due to the elements, lie scattered throughout the tsunami affected region of Japan. Above, a damaged photograph of people celebrating a national holiday. It, and the following images, were found in albums lying by a roadside in Rikuzentakata, a city in Iwate that was devastated by the tsunami.

A family portrait.

A group of school children on an outing.

A girl dressed in a kimono for the shichi-g0-san festival.

Children face the camera, but this photo is too damaged to know more. 

A photo taken at a wedding.

A young man stands by the water.

A family portrait.

A group of children.

A group of high school students on a train.

Children at a school.

A young woman dressed in a kimono and holding a parasol.

A group of high school students.

Two girls dressed in kimonos. 

A damaged photograph.

A close up of a child.

A portrait of a family.

A photograph of two children.

A class of school children.

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