Messages from Fukushima

What the difference brought to Fukushima - two years after the disaster -

 There are many differences between Chernobyl's accident and Fukushima's. Sadly, such differences result in disconnection in communities.

 I personally believe that the degree of radiation exposure of people in Fukushima is better controlled. This is clearly shown from results of the rice (Japan’s staple food) screening examination; over 99.9% cleared a 100Bq/kg limit, which is one of lowest standard of cesium contamination.

I suppose people in Chernobyl could access very limited information and have limited choice to evacuate from the resident places due to the social mechanism of the Soviet Union at that time. At the same time, properties owned by the government were left un-decontaminated just making people migrate to alternate properties.

Flooded information on web/SNS made people in Fukushima uncertain what to believe to make own decisions. Unfortunately, it also highlighted government’s and local governments’ confusion at early stages of the accidents. This resulted in distrust to governments and, thus people tended to believe information that was comfortable to accept for individuals. Therefore, people in a community made different decision to leave or to stay in Fukushima. And what is worse, there were people who could not leave due to family or job reasons. Many families made difficult decision to live at different places.

Unlike Chernobyl, Fukushima chose to decontaminate the land and back to the resident places. However, in reality, there actually need the demarcation of zones depending on contamination level. The line also becomes one of causes to disconnect people in Fukushima.

 

Despite of the choice, the decontamination works require temporally and permanent places to store radioactive wastes. Of course, as a nature of human beings, none is willing to accept such wastes. This also causes frictions between communities. Then, the delay in decontamination increases distrust of people in Fukushima to governments.

The land may be recovered 30-40 years time. However, I wonder how long it would take to recover disconnections.

Nevertheless, we are moving forward step by step believing actions that we take are connected to our future.

18 months after 3.11

Most of people remember "9.11" as a memorial day for the tragic terror at WTC. Today, 9.11.2012, I would like to talk about Fukushima, 18 months after the disaster 3.11.2011.

Attached pictures are from a region where is within 20km diameter from the NPP and was set as no-entry zone over a year. Being the zone redefined in last April, residents are allowed to enter given facts that radioactivity rate of the region is low enough. However, still most of infrastructures remain unrecovered and there are no real lives.

On the other hand, there are positive developments. I talked about decontamination efforts and measurement control of foodstuff. A recent research result indicated that food contamination and distribution control is well under control. The result clearly shows the internal radioactivity is far below enough comparing to past cases in the world.

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/first-study-reports-very-low-internal-radioactivity-after-fukushima-disaster/2012/08/14/aadd1dc2-e628-11e1-8741-940e3f6dbf48_story.html

We still have to fight against biggest challenges decontamination and radioactive waste treatments to recover our land as early as possible.

We appreciate your fair understanding and continuous support to Fukushima.

Fukushima's gratefulness to all supporters and promises to our future

JR East Railaway company is running a project called Smile Project. 

This project is planned to shoot a video message from a special train, whose schedule is preannounced to peoples in the region, asking to message, to perform and to wave their hands while running. 

In Fukushima, the project was set with a revival steam locomotive train on 28/July and a edited video was just posted to Youtube. Unfortunately, it may be difficult for supporters out side Japan to understand every Japanese message in this video clip... This message is packed with so many ARIGATO (Thank you), Genki (We are all fine), Ganbaru (We keep challenge) and every gratefulness. It is really impressive that @1:56 a boy is waving a big orange flag with a message "We will look after Fukushima's future"

I cannot watch this video clip without my heart being touched by each message.

Thank you for all support to Fukushima and please keep ecrourage our revival efforts.

 

 

Peaches soon ready

Fukushima's early-ripening peach shipment has just started. Thanks to farmers' all decontamination work during winter-spring time, those sampling value of radioactive Cs clears the new standard -100Bq/kg, which is one of most strict standards,  set in Japan.

Results can be checked through Fukushima Prefcture's new web page "Fukushima Shin-Hatubai" linked below. The page partially uses English, but unfortunately, you may not be able to access fully in English. I hope you may able to find someone who is able to assist to access necessary information.

http://www.new-fukushima.jp/

Fukushima's main peach "Akatsuki" will become ready soon in a few weeks for your tasting. You bet you will love it.

 

Over a year after; Long-suffering land 相馬の震災後と現状

I never intend to appeal a tear jerking story. But, I just would like to share a part of reality that coast areas in Fukushima face.

The video clip shows situations a month after the disaster “Tsunami” and situations after 14 months long efforts for recovery at a coast area in Soma city. Soma city is located approx. 40km far to the north from the Fukushima Daiichi NPP. Its geographical differences like most of Fukushima’s towns could lessen loss of critical lives. Whereas most of affected Iwate/Miyagi towns are located in creeks, Fukushima’s are located at plain coasts. Thus, area’s population density was rather low.

Just watching the video clip after 14 months efforts, you may think the area is just fields from the beginning. It may be hard for you to imagine, but there were real lives of people.

Infrastructures are still far from recoveries for people to come back to the area even if radioactivity rate is rather low in this area. In addition, such coast area encounters another issues; the rubble cannot be normally processed due to people’s concern for re-emission of radioactive substances.

相馬の震災後およそ１カ月と現状の比較のビデオを編集しました。全く同じアングルで撮影したものではありませんが、同じ地区を撮影したものです。課題が山積です。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtX20A6V6QQ

Festive season soon comes in Tohoku! 「東北六魂祭」と「ふくしま山車フェスタ」

Many region have own festivals in Tohoku. Some are based on traditions. Some are newly organised to fuel regions. Such festivals are often held in Summer and Autumn. Prior to the season, 6-big festivals comes together “Rokkon-sai” on 26/27 May in Morioka/Iwate. Fukushima’s “Waraji Matsuri” also joins to the festival with a 12m long straw made sandal. And a following weekend on 2/June, “Nebuta” of Aomori and “Kanto” of Akita also come together in Fukushima for “Dashi-Festa”. You cannot miss this chance! Please visit Fukushima and enjoy festivals. http://www.rokkon.jp/index_en.html http://www.city.fukushima.fukushima.jp/soshiki/17/kankoushinkou12051102.html 
東北の6大祭りが盛岡に集結！昨年の仙台開催に続き「東北六魂祭」が盛岡で5月26日、27日に開催されます。福島からはわらじまつりが参加、私達の仲間が多く出ますので是非応援宜しくお願いします！そしてその翌週6月2日には福島の「ふくしま山車フェスタ」に青森のねぶた祭りと秋田の竿灯祭りが参加します。なかなかこれらのお祭りを一度に見る機会も少ないですから、盛岡はちょっと遠いかなと言う方も、是非福島においで下さい。およそ100年の歴史がある荒町の山車で私も参加します！ 

a "Snow Rabbit" comes with peach blossoms

I often talked about one of Fukushima's scenic moments - a snow rabbit. Yes, the snow rabbit show itself on the montainside of Azuma-kofuji (Azuma's small Mt. Fuji) with peach blossoms. Besides, pear also coloring the fields in white color. 

This snow rabbit also tells sowing season to farmers in Fukushima. 

Farmers are all fighting and making all possible efforts to harvest fruits and others in a coming summer/fall just as usual as before the fallout. Our challege and endaevor continue.

"Hanami-yama" in full bloom

Various cherry blossoms beautifully colors hills in Fukushima/Watari area, so called Hanami-yama. I think the view could be enjoyed in a coming week until early next week. When the sky is clear, you can also enjoy scenic view with “a snow rabbit” of Azuma-yama. Some of you may recall a name “Watari” where was often highlighted in media as a relatively high radioactivity region. Around its walking path, radioactivity rate is monitored and shifts around 1-2 micro Sv/h. (http://www.f-kankou.jp/pdf/han-senryo20120419.pdf) Fukushima city is conducting decontamination work of Watari area and the situation is improving. To approach, you can take a shuttle bus service from JR Fukushima Station. You can refer to a google map from a following link. (Sorry, pages are only in Japanese.) http://www.f-kankou.jp/haccess.htm Please visit, enjoy and understand Fukushima’s current situation. 

Kick off Party 2012: Football Team in Fukushima

Fukushima United FC, a semi-professional football team in Fukushima, kicked off a 2012 season aiming a ticket to the upper league, JFL at the end of this season. Last year, Fukushima United FC could have a very successful 2011 season with successful staffing and few doubted being qualified to JFL. However, the dream vanished in the disaster and a following NPP accident on 11/3/2011. Players left Fukushima, sponsors declined and the team even lost opportunities to host home games in Fukushima. Despite of such big disadvantages, the team performed quite well through the season and qualified to final matches. However, lack of substitutes obliged a defender to keep the goal instead of injured goal keepers in the finals. The 2011 season closed… In 2012, the Fukushima United FC challenges once again for Fukushima’s dream.

Fighters in Fukushima

In Fukushima, many fighters are tackling facing challenges. A professional team is trying to save a medical service crisis in the coast region. The team also accelerated measurement of internal radiation exposure rate of the people living in the region. The team should have relieved many young parents of the their children's radiation exposure concern. Members of a foreign social club visit Fukushima and listen to voice of residents in a serious manner seeking how they can contribute to people struggle against invisible enemies. Following link and picture shows another fighters; a priest and volunteers from all over the country who struggle decontamination of invisible "hot spots" in school zone. This decontamination work is displeasing and requires patience. I do respect all those people from the bottom of my heart and do wish all those efforts swell into big movements.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/10/us-japan-disaster-invisible-idUSTRE81906N20120210