Four years later, Japan remembers the terrible earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011

"" Four years have passed since the great earthquake in the east. It is still important to continue mutual support, "Emperor Akihito."

The archipelago froze at the sound of sirens at 14:46 local time as here in Ishinomaki. A moving tribute to the 18 500 deaths of disasters.

In , the Imperial couple who presided over the ceremonies.

"The survivors are still living in conditions that remain tough. In the future, it is important that all the people of this nation unite their hearts to be one and support our survivors, "said the Emperor Akihito.

The Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was also present. He promised a "new phase" with another plan to accelerate the reconstruction and that the region of specifically covers a hope for the future.

Of the 18,500 people killed, the bodies of nearly 2,600 have not been found, which prevented their families to mourn peacefully.

And more than 3,000 others then died as a result of this tragedy, especially because of a deterioration in their living conditions, especially in the area of the nuclear power plant .