It's going to be a year since a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami devastated most parts of Japan March 11, 2011.

Over the past 12 months, the Japanese were being praised for doing a commendable job of clearing up quake debris and wrecks that cluttered across the country's coastal regions.

All these months, pictures of Japan's cleanup efforts were flashed across the Web and other media with the one showing a massive ship resting on a roof being one of the most powerful images that portrayed the intensity of the disaster.

While Japan was striving to recover from the aftermath of the disaster, nuclear radiation releases around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant further added to the woes.

As the country will mark first anniversary of the March 11 tsunami and earthquake Sunday, here are the latest pictures that show some tsunami-struck areas almost a year after the killer tsunami took its toll on the regions.

Japan Before and After March 11 Tsunami
A whirlpool caused by the March 11, 2011 tsunami is seen near Oarai City, Ibaraki prefecture, in this image taken March 11, 2011 (L), with the same area being shown on March 3, 2012, in this combination photo. REUTERS/KYODO
Japan Before and After March 11 Tsunami
The tsunami-devastated Sendai airport in Miyagi prefecture, is seen in these images taken March 11, 2011 (top) and March 2, 2012, in this combination photo. REUTERS/KYODO
Japan Before and After March 11 Tsunami
The tsunami-devastated Kesennuma in Miyagi prefecture is seen in these images taken March 18, 2011 (top) and March 1, 2012. REUTERS/KYODO
Japan Before and After March 11 Tsunami
The tsunami-devastated Kesennuma in Miyagi prefecture is seen in these images taken March 13, 2011 (top) and March 1, 2012. REUTERS/KYODO
Japan Before and After March 11 Tsunami
The tsunami-devastated Yamada town in Iwate prefecture is seen in two images taken on March 14, 2011 (top) and March 1, 2012. REUTERS/KYODO
Japan Before and After March 11 Tsunami
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO)'s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is seen in Fukushima prefecture, in aerial shots taken in December 2000 (top) and February 26, 2012. REUTERS/KYODO
Japan Before and After March 11 Tsunami
The combination photograph shows the same location on a street in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on two different dates, March 11, 2011 (top) and February 17, 2012 (bottom). The top photograph shows a wave crashing onto a street after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami, the bottom photograph shows the same location almost a year later. REUTERS/KYODO
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