In this Oct. 9, 2012 photo, with a backdrop of leaning pine trees, part of windbreak forests severely damaged by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, construction works continue

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In this Oct. 9, 2012 photo, with a backdrop of leaning pine trees, part of windbreak forests severely damaged by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, construction works continue near the Arahama Beach in Sendai, northeastern Japan. Japan's government has suspended 35 projects included in a budget for reconstruction from the disasters after criticism the spending was not directly related to recovery from them. As much as a fourth of the 11.7 trillion yen ($148 billion) budget had been earmarked for unrelated projects, including subsidies for a contact lens factory in another region and research whaling. However, the 35 projects put on hold during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda involved spending of only 16.8 billion yen ($210 million). (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File) less