Time: Counting Japan's Dead Is Complicated by Missing Persons

[Jeff Dunsavage]

As the death toll from Japan's 9.0 earthquake and tsunami continues to rise, thousands of people remain unaccounted for, making it likely that large gaps exist between official and unofficial counts, according to this article in Time.

Japan's National Police Agency reported Friday that 6,406 are confirmed dead, and 10,259 missing. The agency did not further break down those figures by region. It is standard practice in Japan not to declare someone missing unless their absence has been reported. But in cases where entire neighborhoods and families were swept away, the unaccounted for may not have anyone left to speak for them.