Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said it was still unbearable to contemplate the feelings of those who lost their loved ones in the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck 10 years ago as a minute of silence was observed across the country.

Suga told a memorial ceremony on Thursday that the government would continue to help rebuild the lives of those who suffered and that Japan, one of the world's most earthquake-prone nations, must never forget the lessons learned from the disaster that took nearly 20,000 lives.