Japan Earthquake
A coffin is carried from a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to ri... A coffin is carried from a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
Rescue workers sift through debris during a search in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami... Rescue workers sift through debris during a search in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
People check a list of the dead outside a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll ... People check a list of the dead outside a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
Rescue workers sift through debris during a search in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami... Rescue workers sift through debris during a search in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
A rescue worker sifts through debris during a search in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsuna... A rescue worker sifts through debris during a search in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
A woman takes photos from a bus taking residents on a tour through their devastated suburb in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 201... A woman takes photos from a bus taking residents on a tour through their devastated suburb in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
Residents pay their last respects to a victim as a van carrying the coffin leaves a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture ... Residents pay their last respects to a victim as a van carrying the coffin leaves a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
An Urban Search and Rescue officer from South Africa sifts through debris during a search of a suburb in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, Ma... An Urban Search and Rescue officer from South Africa sifts through debris during a search of a suburb in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
A coffin is carried from a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continue... A coffin is carried from a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
A man checks a list of the dead outside a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll ... A man checks a list of the dead outside a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
A bus takes residents on a tour through their devastated suburb in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 ea... A bus takes residents on a tour through their devastated suburb in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
An official updates a list of the dead outside a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the deat... An official updates a list of the dead outside a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
Urban Search and Rescue officers from South Africa look at the wreckage of a bus embedded in a building during a search of a suburb in Natori, Miyagi... Urban Search and Rescue officers from South Africa look at the wreckage of a bus embedded in a building during a search of a suburb in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011 after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
Buses take residents on a tour through their devastated suburb in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 ear... Buses take residents on a tour through their devastated suburb in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
Rescue workers sift through debris during a search in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami... Rescue workers sift through debris during a search in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
Residents pay their last respects to a victim as a van carrying the coffin leaves a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture ... Residents pay their last respects to a victim as a van carrying the coffin leaves a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
A coffin is carried from a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to ri... A coffin is carried from a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
People wait outside a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise fo... People wait outside a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the north east coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
An Urban Search and Rescue officer from South Africa walks along a road during a search of a suburb in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, Marc... An Urban Search and Rescue officer from South Africa walks along a road during a search of a suburb in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 201, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
People come to a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise followi... People come to a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
People check a list of the dead outside a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll ... People check a list of the dead outside a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
A bus takes residents on a tour through their devastated suburb as rescue workers continue to search through the debris in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture,... A bus takes residents on a tour through their devastated suburb as rescue workers continue to search through the debris in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
The remains of a house sits amongst debris in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami... The remains of a house sits amongst debris in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
APTOPIX Japan Earthquake
Residents pay their last respects to a victim as a van carrying the coffin leaves a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture ... Residents pay their last respects to a victim as a van carrying the coffin leaves a temporary morgue at a bowling alley in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture Monday, March 21, 2011 as the death toll continues to rise following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
Family members watch Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel search for remains of a fellow family member in their home in Natori, Miyagi Prefectur... Family members watch Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel search for remains of a fellow family member in their home in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
APTOPIX Japan Earthquake
A fishing boat sits amongst debris of houses and cars in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011, following the March 11 earthquake ... A fishing boat sits amongst debris of houses and cars in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
An officer in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force hands personal belongings to a woman as they search for the remains of a fellow family member in th... An officer in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force hands personal belongings to a woman as they search for the remains of a fellow family member in their home in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personal pause during a search in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011, following the March 11 ea... Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personal pause during a search in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
Family members check through some personal belongings retrieved from their home in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011, followin... Family members check through some personal belongings retrieved from their home in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
Family members watch Japan Ground Self Defense Force personnel search for remains of a fellow family member in their home in Natori, Miyagi Prefectur... Family members watch Japan Ground Self Defense Force personnel search for remains of a fellow family member in their home in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan Earthquake
Family members watch Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel search for remains of a fellow family member in their home in Natori, Miyagi Prefectur... Family members watch Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel search for remains of a fellow family member in their home in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Officials and rescue teams increasingly believe many of those missing after a tsunami hit Japan last week will never be found.
The death toll along Japan's ravaged northeast coast climbed over 9,000 on Tuesday. More than 12,000 people remain missing.
Those in search of the dead in the city of Natori go to a makeshift morgue at a bowling alley. They peer into satin-wrapped coffins arranged in neat rows. They rarely find the people they seek.
Natori Mayor Isoo Sasaki said those that find deceased relatives may be the lucky ones. He added: "Many people will not find a body at all."
That's what happened in a 2004 tsunami in Indonesia. About 37,000 people disappeared. Their bodies are presumed to have washed out to sea.
