A ceremony to unveil a stone monument commemorating people who died when tsunami hit a town hall in northeastern Japan in 2011 has taken place where the building used to stand. Forty town officials, including the then-mayor, lost their lives.
About 50 people attended the ceremony in Iwate Prefecture's Otsuchi Town on Sunday. Among them were family members of victims and local high school students who are engaged in activities aimed at passing on stories about the March 11, 2011 disaster.
The monument is about 1.7 meters tall. It was erected where the tsunami-hit town hall stood before it was demolished in 2019.
A note explaining the manner in which the town workers died is inscribed on the monument. A poem composed by a bereaved relative is engraved on it as well.
Ogasawara Hitoshi, who lost his daughter in the tragedy, gave a speech. He said he hopes the monument will help the local government make appropriate decisions, so that no one else will have to undergo painful and sad experiences, due to disasters.
After the ceremony, Ogasawara said that he hopes the monument will encourage town workers to learn more about the disaster and give visitors opportunities to imagine what they would do, if a disaster were to occur.
Hirano Kozo, the town's mayor, said the monument has renewed his determination to keep lessons from the disaster alive, so that the lives of future town workers and residents will be protected.
Quiz 1:
Where was the ceremony for unveiling a stone monument held in December 2025?
A. Iwate Prefecture's Otsuchi Town
B. Northeastern Japan's Town Hall
C. Tokyo City
D. Osaka City
Quiz 2:
How tall is the stone monument that was unveiled in the ceremony?
A. 1.7 meters
B. 2.0 meters
C. 2.5 meters
D. 3.0 meters
Quiz 3:
What did Ogasawara Hitoshi, who lost his daughter in the disaster, hope the monument would do?
A. Encourage town workers to learn more about the disaster
B. Remind visitors of the painful experiences caused by disasters
C. Help the local government make appropriate decisions
D. Inspire people to rebuild the demolished town hall
About 50 people attended the ceremony in Iwate Prefecture's Otsuchi Town on Sunday. Among them were family members of victims and local high school students who are engaged in activities aimed at passing on stories about the March 11, 2011 disaster.
The monument is about 1.7 meters tall. It was erected where the tsunami-hit town hall stood before it was demolished in 2019.
A note explaining the manner in which the town workers died is inscribed on the monument. A poem composed by a bereaved relative is engraved on it as well.
Ogasawara Hitoshi, who lost his daughter in the tragedy, gave a speech. He said he hopes the monument will help the local government make appropriate decisions, so that no one else will have to undergo painful and sad experiences, due to disasters.
After the ceremony, Ogasawara said that he hopes the monument will encourage town workers to learn more about the disaster and give visitors opportunities to imagine what they would do, if a disaster were to occur.
Hirano Kozo, the town's mayor, said the monument has renewed his determination to keep lessons from the disaster alive, so that the lives of future town workers and residents will be protected.
Quiz 1:
Where was the ceremony for unveiling a stone monument held in December 2025?
A. Iwate Prefecture's Otsuchi Town
B. Northeastern Japan's Town Hall
C. Tokyo City
D. Osaka City
Quiz 2:
How tall is the stone monument that was unveiled in the ceremony?
A. 1.7 meters
B. 2.0 meters
C. 2.5 meters
D. 3.0 meters
Quiz 3:
What did Ogasawara Hitoshi, who lost his daughter in the disaster, hope the monument would do?
A. Encourage town workers to learn more about the disaster
B. Remind visitors of the painful experiences caused by disasters
C. Help the local government make appropriate decisions
D. Inspire people to rebuild the demolished town hall
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Summary
In December 2025, a ceremony was held in Iwate Prefecture's Otsuchi Town to unveil a stone monument commemorating the town hall victims from the 2011 tsunami. The monument, standing at approximately 1.7 meters tall, was erected on the site of the former town hall before its demolition in 2019.
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ID: 5adcaa00-09cf-4375-9082-c390d9367182
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20251208_02/
Date: Dec. 8, 2025
Notes: NHK News with Quiz - 2025-12-08
Created: 2025/12/08 05:40
Updated: 2025/12/08 08:07
Last Read: 2025/12/08 08:07