Japan: One year after Fukushima nuclear disaster, 4 repercussions

The March 11, 2011 Japan earthquake was one of the world's worst earthquakes. It triggered a tsunami, flooding, landslides, fires, and a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

- Jenna Fisher, Staff writer

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A Japanese Red Cross official walks through temporary houses for the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Ishinomaki city, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, Friday, March 9, 2012, two days before the anniversary of the disaster. (Itsuo Inouye/AP)

4. The financial toll

Estimated reconstruction cost: $300 billion ($247 billion to be allocated within five years)

Donations from international sources to the Japan Red Cross Society: $4 billion

($4.5 billion has been transferred to 15 prefectures from JRCS to assist disaster survivors with cash grants, with $3.84 billion of that to be distributed to beneficiaries of those killed by the disaster.)

The storm also battered Japan's industries, further damaging its manufacturing base as many electronic and car factories move overseas. Still, a strong yen is sending firms on an international buying spree, wrote Monitor correspondent Gavin Blair this year.