A girl offers prayers for victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami at a seaside which was damaged by the disaster in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands and set off a nuclear crisis. Photo: Reuters

With a moment of silence, prayers and anti-nuclear rallies, Japan yesterday observed one year since an earthquake and tsunami that killed over 20,000 and set off a radiation crisis that shattered public trust in atomic power and the nation's leaders.
The magnitude 9.0 quake, Japan's most powerful since records began, also triggered a serious nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Thousands of people were evacuated as radiation leaked from the plant.
There were memorial services, and a minute's silence was observed at the moment the quake hit, 14:46 local time.
The main memorial ceremony was held at Tokyo's National Theatre, attended by Japan's Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.
"We shall not let our memory of the disasters fade," the 78-year-old emperor said in a brief televised address.
"I hope all the people will keep the victims in their hearts."
Prime Minister Noda pledged to rebuild so that Japan could be reborn "as an even better place".
Much of Japan came to a standstill as the minute of silence was observed.
Warning sirens sounded across the north-east of the country at the precise time the quake struck, 14:46 local time. Bells and prayers also reverberated across the country.
The earthquake struck about 400km north-east of Tokyo on 11 March 2011.
Correspondents say that Japan is still dealing with the economic and political fallout of the disaster.
Although much of the debris has been cleared, survivors from the devastated north-east have complained about slow recovery efforts.
The Japanese authorities believe the reconstruction will cost more than 23 trillion yen over a decade.