The devastating earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan in 2011 left many far-reaching scars on the land and its people.
The effects of nuclear meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the collapsed infrastructure, and the over 15,000 confirmed deaths are still felt to this day.
This day, in fact, which marks the tsunami’s two year anniversary.
But perhaps the most profound impact of the tsunami are the emotional and psychological wounds it has left on survivors.
In Japan’s most devastated areas, for example, people are now claiming to see ghosts.
They’ve reported “spectral figures” wandering the rubble, and spirits lining up at shops that are no longer there.
Sightings have also occurred in homes, accompanied by “inexplicable chills.” This has caused some to turn to exorcists for help.
“There are headless ghosts, and some missing hands or legs. Others are completely cut in half…People were killed in so many different ways during the disaster and they were left like that in limbo. So it takes a heavy toll on us, we see them as they were when they died.” – Kansho Aizawa, exorcist
Of course, much of this has been attributed to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. The Japanese culture is filled with countless stories of demons and spirits, and this may simply be a projection of their grief and haunting memories.
Still, given the thousands of lives lost in this tragic event, it’s not difficult to imagine the energies that may have been left behind.
