Japan is marking the five year anniversary of a deadly earthquake and tsunami that killed some 20,000 people.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Emperor Akihito bowed in front of a stage with white and yellow flowers during in a ceremony in Tokyo.

Abe vowed to move forward. 

"In the past, our nation suffered countless disasters that could be described as national crises, but overcame them each time with determination and hope. I vow once again that we will follow hand in hand in the footsteps of our forefathers and continue to move forward," he said.

The nine-magnitude quake struck off Japan's northeastern shore on March 11th, 2011. It sparked a 33 foot wave that engulfed a large portion of coastline.

The tsunami caused a meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-ich nuclear plant which spewed radiation that contaminated food, water and the air.

More than 160,000 people were forced to evacuate.

Billions of dollars have been spent to help communities rebuild, but thousands of people still live in temporary housing.