Premier Christy Clark visited the Yuriage Shrine in Sendai, Japan on Monday, the site of last year's devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Clark was there to pay tribute and offer support and sympathy, but also to witness the signing of the Tohoku Reconstruction Project, which will see B.C. and Canada pledge a total of $4.5 million for Japan's rebuilding process.
That sum will support the rebuilding of the Yuriage City Public Market, and it's designed to help Japan's fishing and farming industry.
"By working together with industry partners, Canada and B.C. have been able to assist our friends in Japan to move past this tragedy," said Premier Clark, on Monday. "And, the B.C. wood being used will be a lasting symbol of our province's close relationship with Japan."
Of the $4.5 million, Canada's forest industry has agreed to donate $500,000 to the reconstruction, and the new Yuriage market will be built using B.C. forest products such as western red cedar and coastal hem-fire.
The Tohoku earthquake was measured at a 9.0 magnitude and resulted in 15,854 deaths and 26,992 injuries.
It was the most powerful (recorded) earthquake to ever hit Japan.
It also triggered a series of nuclear accidents and meltdowns, most notably at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
To date, Canadians have donated over $40 million to Japan in funding and humanitarian aid.