One Year after the Great East Japan Earthquake Progress in the Recovery of the Affected Areas

March 8, 2012, Minamisannriku-cho, Japan - A huge concrete slab remains over the local railroad track at Minamisannriku-cho, Miyagi Prefecture, some A huge concrete slab remains over the local railroad track at Minamisannriku-cho, Miyagi Prefecture, some 365 km northeast of Tokyo, on Thursday, March 8, 2012. One year after the strongest earthquake ever to hit Japan, the economy is recovering and massive cleanup operations are in full swing throughout much of the country's northeastern region. But once-pastoral landscapes that were piled with rubble and debris have become empty wastelands due mainly to bickering and disagreements. A year later, more than 260,000 people still live in temporary shelters. A year later, more than 260,000 people still live in temporary shelters. (Photo by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO) AYF -mis-