Japan's long, painful recovery

A street corner in Onagawa, Miyagi prefecture, on 16 March 2011, the area reduced to rubble, with a zebra crossing still visible. Photograph: Kyodo News/AP

The same scene on 3 June 2011, with the clean-up operation well under way. Photograph: Kyodo News/AP

This photograph of the Onagawa street corner, taken on 1 September 2011, shows the whole area cleared of rubble. Now reconstruction can take place. Photograph: Kyodo News/AP

This shocking scene from Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, taken on 13 March 2011, shows still-smouldering remnants of a fire-hit street, looking like a more convincing image of the apocalypse than anything that could be dreamed up by Hollywood. Photograph: Kyodo News/AP

The same street on 3 June 2011, much of the rubble swept away and the road clear. Photograph: Kyodo News/AP

The scene in Kesennuma on 1 September 2011, with a truck trundling past and green grass growing where once there was charred rubble. Photograph: Kyodo News/AP

This shocking image shows the tsunami about to engulf an urban area of Natori, in Miyagi prefecture, on 11 March 2011. The wall of water approaches a cluster of houses while, beyond, cars sit in the car park awaiting their fate. Photograph: Kyodo News/AP

By 3 June 2011, the waters had mostly receded and the area substantially cleared, though the car park is full of battered, twisted vehicles. Photograph: Kyodo News/AP

The same scene on 6 September 2011 presented a different picture: greenery is reclaiming the scene of past devastation. Photograph: Kyodo News/AP

In this extraordinary image from Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture, the sightseeing tour boat Hamayuri lies stranded on the roof of a local hotel on 6 April 2011. Photograph: Kyodo News/AP

By 3 June 2011, the boat has gone, but the focus now shifts to a scene of destruction. Photograph: Kyodo News/AP

By 1 September 2011, things are returning to normal – though it will be a long time yet before guests return to this particular hotel. Photograph: Kyodo News/AP