Tokyo, March 11 (IANS): A memorial service was held here Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that left more than 19,000 people dead or missing and triggered a nuclear accident the world had not been seen since 1986.
A minute's silence was observed at 14.46 p.m., the exact time when the magnitude-9 quake struck off northeastern Miyagi prefecture a year ago, Xinhua reported.
Emperor Akihito, who underwent heart surgery last month, delivered a speech at the ceremony at the National Theater in downtown Tokyo.
Similar services were held in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures devastated by the tsunami.