Japan Earthquake &amp; Tsunami (2011): The Tohoku Earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011. It was a magnitude 9 earthquake, that was followed by both a tsunami and a nuclear disaster. Over 16,000 people died. After the disaster, Direct Relief and the Japanese American Citizens League established the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund, committing 100 percent of all contributions to be used exclusively to help people in Japan in the most efficient manner possible.