During an official ceremony, government officials, residents, survivors of the tragedy and families of the victims observed a moment of silence in memory of those killed and affected by the disaster, which also destroyed about 250 thousand homes.

Moreover, participants of the ceremony sent messages of encouragement to those affected by the earthquake and tsunami that hit the northern Japanese region of Tohoku in March 2011.

Several banners showed messages such as Tohoku and Kobe: eternal bonds, spread the public television broadcaster NHK.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, among other personalities, also attended the ceremony.