The man who taught 12 Japanese students who died when the Canterbury Television Building collapsed in the February 2011 earthquake has broken down while talking about the impact the deaths have had on him and others at his school.
Tadashi Jimbo is part of a delegation of Japanese officials who have come to Christchurch to attend the Royal Commission looking into the collapse.
Professor Jimbo, from the Toyama College of Foreign Languages, broke down at a media briefing on Thursday afternoon, saying the aftermath of the tragedy has been a long ongoing nightmare and he still can't believe his students died - "some days it feels like they're still alive".
Through his tears, Professor Jimbo said they were the best students he had had.
He says he doesn't know who to blame for the collapse and hopes the commission will provide some answers.
