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Subscribe to RSSFellow photo editor Robert Hood was struck by the number of images he started seeing in our photo database of family photos and albums lying among the wreckage in Japan. But none is more poignant than the photo Takashi Noguchi captured hanging from a man's back, as he made himself a walking missing persons notice as he hunts for his missing wife.
Takashi Noguchi / AFP - Getty Images
Kenji Sugawara, with a photo of his missing wife, searches for her through the remains of the devastated city of Otsuchi in Iwate prefecture on March 17, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami the hit Japan's northeast coast. The official number of dead and missing after the devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11 that flattened Japan's northeast coast has hit 14,650, police said, a rise of nearly 1,000 in just a few hours.
Paula Bronstein / Getty Images
Personal photos from a photo album sit in the rubble of a house March 17, in Minamisanriku, Japan.
Chris McGrath / Getty Images
Kensennuma, Japan
Chris McGrath / Getty Images
Kensennuma, Japan
Matt Dunham / AP
Kamaishi, Japan
Paula Bronstein / Getty Images
Minamisanriku, Japan.
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God Bless all of them. May they find the strength to grow again.
It hurts seeing these...
The human toll - my heart bleeds for these people. I send you love, prayers, and healing. I look at these pictures and I want to weep both along with and for the people of Japan. The questions I have as I look at these photos - are they alive? Did they survive? Where are they? Where are their families? Will life ever be the same for them? And on, and on, and on.... the children....the spouses....their lives....their homes....their livelihoods... When will the sun shine again for them?
Well put Mary. I hope somebody collects those pictures and albums. Maybe in a few months the survivors will find their family photos and they might feel less bereft. That's what victims of disaster seem to always do: try and find photo albums in the ruins, or, years later, still regret to have lost those memories.
Heart-wrenchingly sad. There are few words to describe this ache in my heart for them.
Words are not enough to express my sympathy for these people, I hope, If they rebuild they will use concrete reinforced with rebar, as I see the concrete buildings were not totally distroyed.
They will never forget that day!!! R.I.P.
It is very sad to see what the people from Japan are going through . My prayers are going to all those families who have lost their loved ones. My deepest sympathy
What an incredible mission must the Japanese people have in order to be able to create once more great waves of peace, value, and inspiration to the world! We all can learn and put into action greater efforts to construct a better world now and for future generations. We cannot take the easy way out and must stop nuclear proliferation.
Japan, our hearts are crying in unison with yours in your grief. We pray that you are given strength, love and everything you need to once again have your shining faces lit with happiness. The world is watching and sending everything we can to help you survive these tragedies and move on. Your solemn, stoic perseverance and humanitarianism is a standard we should all love by.
Having lived in Japan for 3 years when my hubbie was in the USAF, I know that the Japanese people are strong and resilient. They will accept our sympathy and our help and rebuild their lives. 私の最も深い同情
It is truly the end of times.
@ Janice, really? the end of times? @ EffieMae I totally agree with you!
That statement is basically stupid, it is how ever tragic terrible and sad! If you believe in God fine if not fine. But he is not there to fix or create problems. He gave us what we needed and this is what we do to our selves. The Sunami is an act of nature not God. Nuclear Energy is an act of Man, Stupidity is the act of man. Arrogance to not learn from your mistakes is the act of man. Believing God will save us from our stupidity is arrogance.
@ Janicee; yes we are seeing signs of the end, of this wicked system of things. @ Tom instead of us looking down on each other we should upbuild one another. Knowledge is power and in these times we should seek knowledge & truth. If you have a Bible, I would like for you to look at 2 Timothy 3:1 and also, I would like to share with you, some of the signs that Jesus told his disciples about that would prove that we are living in the last days and that God's Kingdom will soon bring everlasting blessings to those who love Jehovah.
Major developments of the last days:
1. Nations will rise against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms (Matthew 24:7). How many people have we seen kill in wars during the pass centuries? To many to count.
2. There will be food shotage (Matthew 24:7). We see those images on TV over and over and also in our very own communities.
3. There will be "great eartquakes" (Luke 21:11). Yes great earthquakes, ones like we've never seen before, and that we are seeing. While my heart goes out to the people in Japan, we are seeing Bible prophecies being fulfil, but there is the "Hope" of everlasting peace & life if we put our faith in Jehovah God.
4. There will be.....pestilences (Luke 21:11). Despite medical advances, old and new diseases plague mankind.
So if we are not living in the last days, then can someone explain to me what is going on? I know one thing for sure, the Bible is the word of God and God never lies.
May God watch over all in Japan and help them find their loved ones safe. May God also provide strength to those that have lost loved ones in this horrible devastation.
God, if there is such as thing, has nothing to do with this. It's like an ant who lives in a see-through ant farm saying it was an act of God when someone accidentally stumbles and makes the ant farm fall and break.
My imagination makes me wonder what religious people will say when other life is found in the Universe, or even more, when intelligent life makes contact with us Earth-bound Humans. Surely the religious will have to think about why the almighty great God didn't tell them about other lifeforms in the Universe.
We're just all tiny organisms, in the Human form, albeit an intelligent offset of previous species of life here on Earth. Yet, the reality of the matter remains, we are indeed an organism in the grand scheme of the Universe around us. We think highly of ourselves, like our lives must have a purpose considering we are very smart and an unearthly creature per se. But its just a way of us coping with the idea that we are indeed a simple organism in the light of our real God, the Universe. Sure it helps to think some grandiose form is looking after our interests and well being, but his hand over your daily life is just a blanket, a cover and an idea that helps you cope with the uncertainties and variables in life. Believe if you must, but don't feel bad when in the future Religion is just an old-school human belief, one that has been debunked.
This is one tragedy of many across our world. It makes me take stock of my loved ones. Living near a fault line you can only prepare for so much. My prayers go out to the Japanese along with Christchurch New Zealand and Haiti. I also pray never to experience such distruction.
Heart wrenching! The people of Japan are strong people and they will pull through. God Bless them...I pray I never have to go through all that they have been through this week.
This is such a tragedy. A question though, is anyone compiling these pictures? These photos may be all that's left of some people's families. Even though they are damaged, I know I would be grateful to have them if that was all I had of family members. I think we all wish Japan well and give them our support.
I dont think anyone can put into words what this devestating tradgedy has left the people of Japan faced with, Mother nature is the most powerful of all enemies! my thoughts and prayers go out to all of the people / families who have suffered and lost more that any of us watching will ever know. I hope for a miracle in helping these people pickup the pieces and try to build / live / move on with there lives... My sincerest sympathies to all those affected by this.
It's not the end of times, it was an earthquake. Let's not turn this into bible thumping, now.
I am so incredibly shocked and sad for Japan. I cannot imagine the desperation and anguish they must feel. I cry every day when I see the photos of pain.
@ Susan; for those who read the Bible and gain knowledge, the events happening in the world around us, though very sad, is to be expected. So this is not Bible thumping, this is Bible prophecies being fulfil. @ PostMenopausal & studious.....In these times, we all should know who God is & where he is, since he is the only one that can offer us peace & protection....I tell you what, why don't you ask yourselves who is Santa, where is he and what is he doing now.........The Bible gives us a full history of both Jehovah God & Satan.
The Bible is based on fear imposing ideologies, a far fetch for any part of the reality in which we live our lives. As for myself, I tend to shy away from learning anything based on skewed ideas or unproven methodologies, I hold my mind active only for the realities surrounding my daily life. And in my daily life I have never and will more than likely never see a God figure come out of the woodwork to help me with an issue, say like maybe changing the tire on my car. If he was so great and was ever present, wouldn't he have made it to where my tire never actually caught that nail and punctured it? If I were the almighty God you speak of, I'd make sure no one was ever hurt under my watch. But we all know this is not possible, even for a God type form. Henceforth, there really is no God, never was, and never will be.
Where is God?
Oh, please! God is where he has always been.
This is a terrible tradgedy and my heart goes out to all who have suffered.
The little girl living deep inside of me still believes in fairy tales. She wants to believe that each of the people shown in these photos will step forward to say, "Yes, that is me and I am fine!". Sadly, the adult that I've grown to become knows that this is not a fairy tale, nor is it likely that it will end with a happily ever after for many of them.
please collect all the photos you can so later they can be cleaned etc to be put in a memorial museum someday after the earthquake recovery and clean up so they the forever lost will not be forgotten .
I recently lost my father (28 Feb) and it hurts but he lived a long life (91). The innocence that was lost in Japan is very heart wrenching.
Oh I certainly hope so , I think that is an important idea. someone should scan any wet, muddied photo albums the people can bring them, tooThey could still see them without having the actual ruin on their fingers and in their nose.
Hi, my name is Brad Harris and i am from St. Louis MO. What a tragedy but what state is Japan in?
Japan is the country does not have states they are called Prefecture's
Not understanding the context in which you ask for the state of Japan. I'd say the northernmost part of Japan is in a dire state of need of food, clothing, heat, energy and most of all care and support.
Hope this is the state you were referring to. I really do.
looking at these photos make my heart cry knowing that just a week ago i was watching all of the unfold live on TV just as i watched 9/11 with the world trade buildings fall. My thoughts and prayers go out to the World. lenney
I am in aggreeance, with Tom T-2013130 and with Susan-2245471! The audacity of one stating that it is the "end of time" and the other one asking "where is God?" you both need to look more closely! There are many still alive and yes god is there. Through everyone there helping as much as possible not even thinking of the risk they are taking...
I physically, mentally, and emotionaly for everyone there, and yes i cry at time's too, when i read or see the photos of so much devastation and tragedy that has taken place there but; also very grateful and thankful that there are so many still alive and yes it will take time to heal.
They are strong an shall come through this as they have in the past. With the help of other's from around the world we will help them get through this with all the love,compassion, emotional, and physical strength that we can give.... no matter what it shall take we will be there for them.....
A haunting reminder of the difficult reality facing the Japanese people at this time.
While the photographs exemplify the lives lost and the surviving ones that have forever
been changed by this tragedy, we must allow for some sense of dignity in presenting
their misfortune. Case in point, the trio photo from Kensennuma; while it was likely
found in such condition, muddy, with faces mostly obliterated, it would have been more
dignified to either not display it, or take another shot of it rinsed off to at least show
some portion of the people in the photo. Even if some victims are never recovered,
all these people have a name. Yes, the photo as it is, symbolizes the washing away of
people's lives, either literally or through the loss of everything they own, but its
anonymity is nonetheless, unnecessary.
Some photos don't survive being wiped when they have been soaked in flood waters - all the chemicals that wash into the water remove the image if you touch it. My knowledge is first-hand from Katrina...