Japan marks six months since disasters

Ceremonies to mourn the dead and rallies against nuclear power are taking place across Japan as the nation marks six months since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands of people.

Silent prayers were offered at 2:46 pm, the moment the quake struck six months ago triggering a tsunami that devastated swathes of Japan's northeastern coastline and sparked a disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Al Jazeera's Steve Chao reports from Ishinomaki.