A harsh year of clean-up has passed since the immense 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan, triggering a destructive tsunami wave. The moving wall of water caused a widespread wipe-out, leaving almost 22,000 people dead or missing and unleashing a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Check out the before & after imagery of the destruction at the time of the disaster and how those areas look now after the massive clean-up job.
A cruise ship lies on the roof of a two-storey holiday home after the tsunami disaster. A year on, the area around the home is ready for new life.
2011 photo: AFP: Toru Yamanaka
2012 photo: AFP: Toru Yamanaka
The city of Kesennunma was devastated by the March 11 tsunami. Almost a year on, little remains of the widespread destruction.
2011 photo: AFP: Philippe Lopez
2012 photo: AFP: Toru Yamanaka
Locals take in the destruction caused by the March 11 tsunami. In January 2012, the area is free from debris.
2011 photo: AFP: Nicolas Asfouri
2012 photo: AFP: Toru Yamanaka
A fishing boat and part of a house lie among the tsunami rubble on March 31, 2011. Nearly a year after the disaster, a sense of normalcy is beginning to return to the area.
2011 photo: AFP: Toshifumi Kitamura
2012 photo: AFP: Toru Yamanaka
A road collapses after the massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake. A year on it has been repaired and pedestrians have returned.
2011 photo: AFP: Toshifumi Kitamura
2012 photo: AFP: Toru Yamanaka
A tsunami breeches an embankment shortly after the massive March 11 quake. Almost a year on, calm has returned to the water.
2011 photo: AFP: Jiji Press
2012 photo: AFP: Toru Yamanaka
Train tracks are littered with cars in the wake of the 2011 disaster. In January 2012, trains are running once again.
2011 photo: AFP: Toru Yamanaka
2012 photo: AFP: Toru Yamanaka
