Wreckage that was swept away by tsunami last year is now making its way across the Pacific Ocean.

Japan has been holding a day of remembrance one year after the earthquake and tsunami that left at least 16,000 people dead and another 3,000 still missing.

When the tsunami retreated from Japan’s shores, it also swept out vast amounts of wreckage to sea.

The process has formed a debris field roughly the size of the state of California, which is now floating towards North America.

Al Jazeera’s Rob Reynolds reports from Los Angeles, California.