Japan remembers one year on

The land of the rising sun remembers the first anniversary of the quake and tsunami that unleashed a nuclear crisis.

A minute of silence descended across Japan at 2:46 p.m., the exact moment the quake hit a year earlier.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said emotions were still very raw.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, YOSHIHIKO NODA SAYING:

"A year has passed since the Great East Japan Disaster but it is still unbearable to think of the pain of the survivors and the despair of families who's loved ones have passed away."

Japanese Emperor Akihito said the memory of the triple disaster must not be allowed to fade.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE EMPEROR AKIHITO SAYING:

"It is important that we do not forget the memories of this big earthquake and pass them onto our descendants, so that readiness for natural disasters is fostered and we can make progress towards building a safer country."

This is the port city of Ofunato, where 420 were killed or remained missing.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) OFUNATO RESIDENT MASAMI OIKAWA SAYING:

"I would like the souls of the victims to rest in peace and for us that remain to learn the lessons of this disaster."

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 21-YEAR YEAR OLD YOSHIYUKI MORISHITA SAYING:

"I came here to tell my grandfather who was killed that I am okay and enjoying life here."

Workers at Tepco, the company which operated the Fukushima nuclear plant wrecked by the tsunami, also held a minute's silence.

Outside the firm's headquarters a protester made his feelings known.

Tepco issued another apology on Sunday after criticism that it failed to prepare for such a crisis.

The government said the damaged reactors had reached "cold shutdown" in December but fears remain over the long-term health effects of radiation.

Twelve year old Shiori Anzai says the politicians aren't doing enough.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 12-YEAR-OLD SHIORI ANZAI SAYING:

"I have hardly noticed the year passing, but you really have to wonder what politicians were doing now the whole time."

As the nation remembered the events of a year ago nearly 80,000 people are still unable to return to their homes within 20 kilometres of the nuclear plant.

Sophia Soo, Reuters.