Aug 18, 2014 6:30 AM

Gallery: Beautiful Portraits of Tsunami Survivors Help a Community Rebuild

Alejandro Chaskielberg
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Mrs. Oikawa Shiyuko seated on the remains of what was once her home, in the town of Otsuchi, Japan.
Alejandro Chaskielberg
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The remains of two houses in the fishing town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.

Alejandro Chaskielberg
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Approximately ten percent of the population of Otsuchi died or went missing in the 2011 tsunami.
Alejandro Chaskielberg
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The members of a family, seated in the place where their house stood before its destruction in the tsunami of March 11th, 2011.

Alejandro Chaskielberg
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A family album that was swept away by the 2011 tsunami. It was found after being exposed to the elements for two years.
Alejandro Chaskielberg
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Otsuch's firefighters sitting where once was the Otsuchi fire station stood.

Alejandro Chaskielberg
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A mangled vending machine destroyed by the 2011 tsunami.
Alejandro Chaskielberg
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Fishing nets tangled with objects destroyed by 2011 tsunami, in the town of Otsuchi, Japan.

Alejandro Chaskielberg
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Women of three generations of the same family sit in what was the bathroom of their house, in Otsuchi, Japan.
Alejandro Chaskielberg
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A photograph that was swept away by the 2011 tsunami.

Alejandro Chaskielberg
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A group of fishermen and women seated on buoys that were swept away by the 2011 tsunami.
Alejandro Chaskielberg
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The remains of a car, fishing nets and houses, Otsuchi, Japan.

Alejandro Chaskielberg
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The remains of a bathroom of a house. In the background is the new Otsuchi town hall.
Alejandro Chaskielberg
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The remains of a residence's bath, Otsuchi, Japan.

Alejandro Chaskielberg
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Two young men next to a railroad bridge destroyed by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Otsuchi, Japan.
Alejandro Chaskielberg
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Remains of fishing industry materials, Otsuchi town, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.

Alejandro Chaskielberg
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"Otsuchi is a very small town," says Chaskielberg. "Its inhabitants regularly pass by the places where their houses used to be. Most people had no problems being photographed in those house footprints.".
Alejandro Chaskielberg
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"The title 'Otsuchi Future Memories’ is a play on words to reflect on memory and the importance of family pictures in these types of tragedies," explains Chaskielberg.

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