- Japan is commemorating the 31st anniversary of the devastating Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
- Memorial events are occurring, including a lantern display and a moment of silence, though participation is declining.
- Organizers are considering how to preserve the memory of the earthquake for younger generations who did not experience it.

A: Hey! Did you hear anything about today?

B: No, what’s up? Is it a holiday?

A: Not really. Today's the anniversary of the big earthquake! It was 31 years ago.

B: Oh wow, that’s a long time! I remember bits from when I first came here, my host family talked about it a lot.

A: Yeah, it was really awful. Kobe and the area around it were hit hard. So many people – over 6,400 – lost their lives.

B: That's terrible! What are people doing to remember?

A: They’re putting lanterns out in Kobe. They make a big shape of “1-17” and the word "tsumugu”. It means "to weave" - like piecing things back together.

B: That’s beautiful! So, a hopeful message?

A: Exactly! They're trying to remember what happened and move forward. They had a moment of silence too, at the exact time the earthquake started.

B: When was that?

A: 5:46 a.m. They always observe it.

A: Interestingly, there aren't as many memorial events this year as in previous years.

B: Really? Why is that?

A: Because more and more people haven't actually experienced the earthquake. It's making people think about how to keep the memories alive.

B: That's a tricky thing to do. It's important though.