Japanese workers begin search for tsunami bodies in Okawa 19 months later
By Julian Ryall -- Oct 11
Work has finally begun to find some of those still listed as missing following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, 19 months on.
Okawa, an area to the south of the Kitakami river, which flooded despite extensive embankments, was left beneath the level of the sea due to the massive surface movements caused by the March 11, 2011 earthquake.
It has taken engineers 19 months to build new protective dykes and pump the seawater out of an area covering 106 hectares.
In total, 15,870 people have been confirmed dead in north-east Japan, while a further 2,814 are still listed as missing. Of the missing, 23 were swept away from this district of the city of Ishinomaki, including four children and one teacher from the school.
The remains of 74 pupils at the school have been identified.
Teams made up of police officers, employees of the city board of education and other volunteers began the search on Monday, sifting through the mud and debris with hand tools while heavy machinery excavated larger sections.
震災からまもなく1年7カ月、ようやく大規模捜索が始まった地区がある。宮城県石巻市の長面地区だ。捜索が始まったエリアは1年半もの間、水没していたため、海の砂が1メートルも堆積しているという。
Source: telegraph.co.uk
| May 22 | Cops crack down on porn films targeting lolicon lechers |
 With crackdowns on violators of child prostitution and pornography statutes having increased in recent years, Nikkan Gendai (May 17) wonders how a manager of an online operation that primarily sold lolicon (“Lolita complex”) films was able to evade detection for an extended period prior to his arrest earlier this month. (Tokyo Reporter) |
| May 22 | X Japan waxes lyrical at Madame Tussauds debut |
 This Monday, members of the seminal metal band X Japan were in Odaiba rubbing shoulders with the likes of Brad Pitt, Lady Gaga and AKB48′s Yuko Oshima. The catch? They were all made out of wax. (Japan Times  ) |
| May 22 | Transport ministry to unify rules for baby strollers on buses, trains |
 The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced that it intends to draw up a set of unified rules for the use of baby strollers on buses and trains. (Japan Today ) |
| May 21 | Japan Crown Prince to visit Spain |
 Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito will visit Spain for seven days from June 10, the government said Tuesday. (Jiji Press ) |
| May 21 | Tokyo broker for Thai hostesses busted for wrongful employment |
 Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Monday announced the arrest of a broker of Thai females for violating immigration laws by employing the women as masseuses. (Tokyo Reporter ) |
| May 21 | Claim filed against Yamaguchi-gumi top bosses for arson death in Nagoya |
 The parents of a nightclub worker killed in an arson fire three years ago filed a suit in the Nagoya District Court on Monday seeking damages against top members of the Yamaguchi-gumi organized crime group. (Tokyo Reporter ) |
| May 21 | Senior Kyodo News official dismissed over improper act |
 Kyodo News said Monday that it has dismissed Satoshi Kondo, 51, deputy chief of its general administration bureau and former personnel affairs division chief, for meeting individually with a female student searching for a job and doing an inappropriate act.
(Jiji Press ) |
| May 20 | Saitama cops bust massive child porn DVD operation |
 Saitama and Okayama prefectural police last week arrested the manager of an online porn DVD operation that specialized in films featuring children. (Tokyo Reporter) |
| May 19 | Japan's child kidnapping problem |
 Dozens of American children are abducted to Japan every year-not by strangers, but by parents after messy divorces. (thedailybeast.com ) |
| May 18 | 5-year-old boy's hand gets caught in shopping mall escalator |
 A 5-year-old boy sustained an injury at a shopping mall in Nagoya on Friday after his hand became trapped in an escalator. (Japan Today ) |