Memorial

Today marks 25 years since the Great Hanshin earthquake, at 6.9 it was the strongest quake recorded after the Second World War. Damage was widespread and severe and caused a major decline in the Japanese stock market with the Nikkei plunging by 1025 points the day after.

It is also seen as the turning point in the beginning of volunteering in Japan with around 1.2 million people involved in relief efforts after the earthquake.

Every year the city holds a moving memorial at the exact time of the quake. It is also a time to reflect on lessons learnt so that Japan is now safer from natural disasters than in the past.