He clung to a tree for hours to escape death in Japan’s worst natural disaster. Ten years on, he’s still rebuilding his life – CNN

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By Emiko Jozuka, Blake Essig, Junko Ogura and Daniel Campisi, CNN

Updated 4:38 AM ET, Thu March 11, 2021

(CNN)Kenichi Kurosawa clung precariously to a tree as the water rose around him, entirely flooding the roads below.

A lone 10-meter-high pine tree stands as a symbol of hope on the shore of the tsunami-wrecked Japanese city of Rikuzentakata in Iwate prefecture. The tree was one of 70,000 in a forest that had protected the city from ocean winds for more than 300 years. A lone 10-meter-high pine tree stands as a symbol of hope on the shore of the tsunami-wrecked Japanese city of Rikuzentakata in Iwate prefecture. The tree was one of 70,000 in a forest that had protected the city from ocean winds for more than 300 years.
Entire houses disappeared when an earthquake triggered a tsunami that swamped cities along the Japanese coast. This is the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture on March 21, 2011. Entire houses disappeared when an earthquake triggered a tsunami that swamped cities along the Japanese coast. This is the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture on March 21, 2011.
Even 10 years on, the sight of a boat sitting in the middle of a suburban street is jarring. The tsunami tossed this boat onto the streets of Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture in March 2011.Even 10 years on, the sight of a boat sitting in the middle of a suburban street is jarring. The tsunami tossed this boat onto the streets of Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture in March 2011.
The 2011 tsunami also sparked fires that consumed some houses in Natori city in Miyagi prefecture.The 2011 tsunami also sparked fires that consumed some houses in Natori city in Miyagi prefecture.
A man cries as he searches for his son, who was a teacher at Okawa Elementary School in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture. The school was devastated by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11. A man cries as he searches for his son, who was a teacher at Okawa Elementary School in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture. The school was devastated by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11.
In the wake of the disaster, family albums became treasured mementos for those who had lost everything. In the wake of the disaster, family albums became treasured mementos for those who had lost everything.
Survivors survey the damage in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, the day after the quake. Ten years on, many people displaced by the disaster are still living in temporary homes.Survivors survey the damage in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, the day after the quake. Ten years on, many people displaced by the disaster are still living in temporary homes.
Rows of coffins in Rifu, Miyagi prefecture, carry the remains of people whose bodies were recovered. Others disappeared, swept away by the water that inundated coastal areas.Rows of coffins in Rifu, Miyagi prefecture, carry the remains of people whose bodies were recovered. Others disappeared, swept away by the water that inundated coastal areas.
A bulletin board lists the names of people missing in the disaster, as families tried to find their loved ones. A bulletin board lists the names of people missing in the disaster, as families tried to find their loved ones.
Rescue workers search for survivors among destroyed houses and debris in Minamisenriku, Miyagi prefecture.Rescue workers search for survivors among destroyed houses and debris in Minamisenriku, Miyagi prefecture.
More than 20,000 people died or went missing in the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Kadowaki Elementary School provides a view of the ruined city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture.More than 20,000 people died or went missing in the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Kadowaki Elementary School provides a view of the ruined city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture.
A rescue worker searches for signs of life in Minamisoma, Fukushima. The tsunami waves were up to <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/17/world/asia/japan-earthquake---tsunami-fast-facts/index.html" target="_blank">30 meters (nearly 100 feet) high</a>.A rescue worker searches for signs of life in Minamisoma, Fukushima. The tsunami waves were up to <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/17/world/asia/japan-earthquake---tsunami-fast-facts/index.html" target="_blank">30 meters (nearly 100 feet) high</a>.
A clock hit by the tsunami remains frozen at 15:25 pm, at Yagawa Elementary School in Ishinomaki. Waves covered almost 5 square kilometers (500 hectares) of the city, <a href="http://itic.ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1949:2011-japan-tsunami-before-after-photos&catid=2044&Itemid=2365" target="_blank">according</a> to the International Tsunami Information Center. A clock hit by the tsunami remains frozen at 15:25 pm, at Yagawa Elementary School in Ishinomaki. Waves covered almost 5 square kilometers (500 hectares) of the city, <a href="http://itic.ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1949:2011-japan-tsunami-before-after-photos&catid=2044&Itemid=2365" target="_blank">according</a> to the International Tsunami Information Center.
A man comforts a woman as she cries in front of her damaged home in the town of Watari in Miyagi prefecture.A man comforts a woman as she cries in front of her damaged home in the town of Watari in Miyagi prefecture.
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Smoke pours from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power plant days after the earthquake and tsunami.Smoke pours from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power plant days after the earthquake and tsunami.
A 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck offshore on March 11 at 2:46pm local time, triggering a tsunami wave.A 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck offshore on March 11 at 2:46pm local time, triggering a tsunami wave.
Kenichi Kurosawa (center) and his friends draw the words "Ganbaro!" or "hang in there" on a billboard lit up with car headlights in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture on April 10, 2011. Kenichi Kurosawa (center) and his friends draw the words "Ganbaro!" or "hang in there" on a billboard lit up with car headlights in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture on April 10, 2011.

    CNN’s James Griffiths, Angus Watson and Chie Kobayashi contributed to this report from Hong Kong and Tokyo

    Source Article from https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/10/asia/japan-tohoku-fukushima-tenth-anniversary-hnk-dst-intl/index.html

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