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A century-old workshop, renowned worldwide for its traditional lacquerware, lay in smouldering ruins following a devastating earthquake and fire. Kohei Kirimoto, 31, an eighth-generation lacquer artist, walked through rubble on Thursday, concerned only for his beloved cats.

He put out food and water for not just the three cats that lived in his home and workspace, but also for dozens of community felines that lived in Wajima's "Asaichi" morning market, famed for its winding stalls of seafood, snacks and crafts.

Wajima was hit hardest by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck central Japan on the afternoon of New Year's Day, the strongest in the country since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. As of Thursday, at least 84 people have been confirmed dead as the search for survivors continues.

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