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Video Testimonies from Fukushima in 7 Languages: Ms Oga Ayako, who evacuated from Okuma Town in Fukushima Prefecture to Niigata Prefecture
In cooperation with the environmental NGO Friends of the Earth Japan (FoE Japan), Peace Boat has launched the next in our series of video testimonies of the current situation in Fukushima in various languages.
The seventh instalment in the series, this latest video features an interview with Ms Oga Ayako, who evacuated from her home in the town of Namie, Fukushima. It is being released in English, French, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, German and Spanish, adding to the original Japanese.
Ms Oga learned of the dangers of nuclear power after the Chernobyl disaster, and became involved in the movement against it. While going back and forth to Fukushima, due in part to the accident at the Fukushima No. 2 nuclear power plant, she fell in love with the beauty of the area and decided to move there. "What a wonderful place it would be without nuclear power plants, or even with them," she thought. She studied agriculture, and had an architect friend to build her dream house, made of wood from the nearby Abukuma Mountains. The accident happened just before being able to move in to the house. After evacuating to Niigata Prefecture at the end of 2013, Ms Oga said, "I was so happy that first spring, I felt everything was OK." That's how difficult life was after the nuclear accident, even though the evacuation order for parts of Okuma Town was lifted in March 2020.
Please listen to Ms Oga's story, to hear the voices and ongoing situation of the community in Fukushima (11 mins 57 sec).
English https://youtu.be/dPm8Ln_3rI4
French https://youtu.be/YGpr8R-LBu0
Korean https://youtu.be/FCNl6fHlxVc
Chinese (traditional) https://youtu.be/37mgT6_jlYk
Chinese (simplified) https://youtu.be/sMcsCL7xHMk
German https://youtu.be/TmZES3615YY
Spanish https://youtu.be/kvbywO4FMXE
Japanese https://youtu.be/NIhmLYWZbgU
Please see the “Mieruka Project” Homepage for other testimonies and more information about the nuclear power plant disaster and the ongoing situation in Fukushima.