Six months on, few signs of recovery {japan}

[xchrom]

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110911a1.html

OTSUCHI, Iwate Pref. — After the March 11 earthquake and tsunami destroyed everything from houses to street lights, the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, has been so dark and quiet at night it's unnerving.

But the light coming from a convenience store that reopened in late July has become a symbol of hope for the community.

"Unless people start reopening their businesses, the town will never take the first steps toward reconstruction," said Taiko Tanisawa, the 63-year-old owner of the reopened Marutani store, as she warmly greeted customers.

While Tanisawa and her family survived the catastrophe, her house and the store she ran since 1994 were destroyed by the tsunami and an ensuing fire caused by a propane gas leak.