The Miracle Pine Tree

Before the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the beachfront at Rikuzentakata was lined by a 350-year-old forest of roughly 70,000 pine trees. The tsunami that followed destroyed all but one. That single surviving tree became a symbol of recovery for the region. When it died in 2012 due to saltwater damage, communities across Japan contributed to preserving its memory. A 27.5-meter reconstruction using much of the original tree now stands at the site, a short walk from the Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum. Saplings grown from seeds of the original tree, determined to have been 173 years old, have been replanted along the beach alongside thousands of others. Nearby, two buildings left standing by the tsunami are preserved as memorials.