A new term started on Wednesday at an elementary school in Anamizu Town in central Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture. The school building was severely damaged in the massive earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day last year.

About 130 children at Anamizu Elementary School exchanged greetings at the entrance of their temporary school building.

They have been attending classes in provisional classrooms set up in the schoolyard since September.

At a morning meeting in the third-grade homeroom, children shared memories from their winter holidays. Some said they had enjoyed eating traditional New Year meals.

One boy said that while he spent the holidays last year at an evacuation center, this winter he visited Yokohama's Chinatown and was happy to have a normal New Year.

Teacher Okuno Masataka said he was happy to see the children return to school full of energy.

A ceremony to start the school term was held in the gymnasium.

Principal Yoshimura Akemi reminded the children that their daily lives are made possible by the support of many people. She urged them to go through the new term with a sense of gratitude.