Japan Remembers Victims of Noto Earthquake, Heavy Rain 2 Years After Disasters

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:59 JST, January 2, 2026

WAJIMA, Ishikawa — A memorial ceremony on Thursday held by Ishikawa Prefecture remembered victims of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, which occurred on Jan. 1, 2024, and those killed in torrential rains that hit the northern part of the peninsula in September of the same year.

Attendees observed a moment of silence at 4:10 p.m., the exact time the earthquake struck two years ago.

Shin Nakayama, 29, who resides in the city, lost his older sister in the torrential rains. He delivered a eulogy as a representative of the bereaved families.

“My sister was like a ray of sunshine who was always smiling and brightened the spirits of those around her, even at the evacuation center [after the quake],” he said, reflecting on his time with his sister. “Losing her robbed our family of its light, leaving us crushed by deep sorrow and despair.”

Nakayama has hosted a disaster FM radio program since then and interacting with residents through the broadcast has lifted his spirits.

“I believe my sister is listening [to my broadcast] from heaven,” he said. “I feel that being a radio host is my way of honoring her memory and repaying the kindness of the community.”

“We will keep close the feelings of all those affected,” said Gov. Hiroshi Hase at the ceremony while speaking about the reconstruction of the area. “We will concentrate our wisdom with the help of the central and local governments as well as the private sector and steadily advance efforts to revitalize the area with the people from Noto.”

Other attendees included former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who took command of the disaster response after the quake, and then disaster management minister Jiro Akama.