( CNN ) -- When the ground began to shake in Tokyo on March 11 , 2011 , Katsuhiro Asama was in the office of his creative management agency . Some 200 miles north , a 9.0-magnitude earthquake had struck off the coast of the Tohoku region , triggering dozens of aftershocks and a tsunami that sent 30-feet high walls of water crashing across fields , flattening entire towns and propelling debris miles inland . More than 15,000 people died and over 20 times that number were displaced by the disaster . It was the largest ever earthquake to hit Japan and the fourth biggest on record worldwide . Asama spent much of that day checking on his loved ones and colleagues -- professional photographers , makeup artists and models , many of whom had family or friends in Tohoku . `` I strongly felt I had to do something and anything I could possibly do , '' the father of two said . In the days that followed , his employees returned to their hometowns and confronted the aftermath . Asama 's own grandparents lived in Rikuzentakata , a coastal city in Iwate Prefecture that was completely wiped out by the waves . `` Of course , we did something for our families , but at the same time , we started to think about what we could do for others , '' he said . Two months later , on May 14 , Asama and some of his colleagues began what would become known as the Egao Project -- or `` Smile '' Project in English -- traveling to the worst-hit areas of Japan to pamper the tsunami survivors who had been left to live in temporary evacuation shelters . The group , which organizes activities like hair and makeup sessions and face painting for children , has helped to bring smiles to the faces of those who have endured extraordinary hardships . The volunteers capture these small moments of joy in photographs , hoping the survivors ' remarkable resilience will serve as an inspiration to others . Over the last three years , the group has visited around 180 shelters across Tohoku . They have a core group of several dozen volunteers who visit the region twice a month , but as many as 2,000 people have contributed to their mission . Community building . Egao Project donates the photographs to the survivors , many of whom lost their possessions in the disaster , but the activities have also helped build a sense of community among those living in the shelters , according to Asama . For him , one of the most memorable images was taken on the group 's first visit to the region , on May 14 , 2011 . It 's an image of two middle-aged women with beaming faces , embracing -- their two enormous grins forming creases around their eyes . `` They seem to be very close friends , '' Asama said . It was only later that his team learned the pair had never met before that day . One woman lost her house in the tsunami and the other , whose home was spared , had visited the shelter to assist . It was only through the Egao Project 's activities that they crossed paths and became good friends . The project seeks to draw attention to the plight of the people of Tohoku , more than 200,000 of whom still live in temporary accommodation three and a half years after the earthquake struck . `` In summer or winter it 's really quite harsh -- even inside of the housing it gets really cold , '' said Kozue Miyagi , a volunteer responsible for event planning and promotion . `` They do n't even know how much longer they have to live ( like this ) , because the housing situation in Tohoku is not progressing as easily as initially planned , so they 're living in quite a challenging , harsh environment . '' Asama says that many of those living in the shelters are `` tired , stressed , physically and mentally exhausted . '' `` But from our experience , we know that our activities can lighten up their day a little and make them smile , even for a few seconds . '' `` If we know we can do something positive , we just have to do it and ( not give up ) , '' he said . Scars remain . The group 's work is far from over . Six months ago , when a team of Egao Project volunteers visited one of the shelters , a girl approached them and said : `` How can I smile when I lost my dad and grandpa ? I really do n't like photographs . '' `` It was quite a shock , '' said Asama . `` After three years of project activities and more than 5,000 smile photographs , we thought that people ( were starting ) to recover slowly but surely . But the fact was , there are scars on many people 's hearts still . '' Asama and his team are determined to keep the project going `` until everyone can get their smile back , '' even if that takes decades . `` We will not do it for them , but we will do it together with them , '' he said .
Japanese NGO seeks to bring small moments of joy to victims of 2011 tsunami . They visit hospitals , entertain those who lost their homes in the disaster . Photos of the events capture courage , resilience of people of Japan . Three years after the disaster , more than 200,000 people in the region still live in shelters .