A travelling exhibition, 'Tohoku – through the eyes of Japanese photographers' opened on Thursday, 13 August and is on display for two-weeks at the Tupou Tertiary Hall in Fasi.

The exhibition was initiated in 2012 to mark the first anniversary of the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami that struck Tohoku situated on the north eastern region of Japan on March 11, 2011.

The Japanese Ambassador HE Mr Yukio Numata said the collection of photographs, which dates back to 1917 presents the changing scenery of Tohoku's people and environment.

Taken by nine individual photographers and one photography group from the region, the pictures illustrate that Tohoku is much more than the March 11, 2011 catastrophe. It is a region where the spiritual culture of the Jomon spirit is preserved and continues to prevail in spite of the technological advancements that Japan embodies to the world, he said.

“I am confident that our cooperation here will inspire Tongan photographers and youth to pursue the advancement of the art of photography.”

The Minister of Finance Hon Dr 'Aisake Eke said the exhibition is an inspiration and a learning opportunity for Tongans.

This is the fourth overseas exhibition hosted by the Japanese Embassy in Nuku'alofa since it started in 2011 funded by the Japan Foundation.

The exhibition was showed in Wellington then Tonga and will travel to Vietnam.