{
  "id": 7275523,
  "title": "Japan's Prince Hisahito visits 3.11 quake-hit area for 1st time with Crown Prince Akishino",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/japans-prince-hisahito-visits-3-11-quake-hit-area-for-1st-time-with",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T08:26:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260914/p2a/00m/0na/015000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prince Akishino and his son, Prince Hisahito, ventured to Kesennuma city in northeastern Japan on September 13 for an unprecedented visit to a memorial museum preserving the ruins from the devastating March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. This marked the first time Prince Hisahito had set foot in the area affected by the disaster.\n\nAt the Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake Kesennuma City Memorial Museum, the two princes toured the remnants of the former Miyagi Prefectural Kesennuma Koyo High School, which was significantly damaged by the earthquake and tsunami. More than 1,400 residents lost their lives or remain missing, including those who died as a result of the disaster. The museum displayed the original buildings of the school, which still bore the scars of the catastrophe.\n\nPrince Akishino and Prince Hisahito walked through the debris-strewn gymnasium, now reduced to nothing but its steel frame, guided by Mio Fukuoka, a 17-year-old third-year student. Upon hearing her explanation, Prince Hisahito inquired about the upper part of the structure that had disappeared during the disaster. Prince Akishino, reassured by the fact that the students engaged in club activities at the time had managed to evacuate safely, expressed his relief, saying, \"I'm glad they were safe.\"\n\nThe tsunami reached a height of 12 meters, surging up to the fourth floor of the school building and causing a building to be swept away by the waves, which subsequently crashed into the school. Both princes observed the remnants of the disaster and viewed video footage summarizing the tsunami, fires, and the progress of subsequent reconstruction efforts.",
  "summary": "KESENNUMA, Miyagi -- Crown Prince Akishino and his son, Prince Hisahito, visited a local museum preserving ruins from the March 11, 2011, Great East J",
  "key_points": [
    "Prince Hisahito visits Kesennuma city for first time since 2011 disaster",
    "Tours ruins of damaged Miyagi Prefectural Kesennuma Koyo High School",
    "Crown Prince Akishino expresses relief students evacuated safely"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Nippon.com News",
        "title": "Japan's Prince Hisahito Visits Disaster-Hit Areas",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/japans-prince-hisahito-visits-disaster-hit-areas",
        "published": "2026-09-14T08:41:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Saudi Gazette",
        "title": "Crown Prince, US CENTCOM Commander discuss latest regional developments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/crown-prince-us-centcom-commander-discuss-latest-regional-developments",
        "published": "2026-09-14T10:11:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s farewell gesture to driver in New Delhi after BRICS Summit goes viral: ‘Beautiful gesture’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/abu-dhabi-crown-princes-farewell-gesture-to-driver-in-new-delhi-after",
        "published": "2026-09-14T10:49:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}