Several beaches ravaged by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan have been reopened for bathing for the first time in 8 years.
Several beaches ravaged by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan have been reopened for bathing for the first time in 8 years.
Haragamaobama beach in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, was opened to the public on Saturday. Seawalls on the beach were badly damaged by the tsunami 8 years ago. But the reconstruction work has been completed. A ritual was held to pray for safety, and a group of local residents released balloons into the sky before the beach was officially declared open. Children then jumped into the water all at once.
