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Video Testimony from Fukushima: Mr Itakura Masao, who returned to live in Tomioka Town

Jul 15, 2021

Peace Boat has cooperated with the environmental NGO Friends of the Earth Japan (FoE Japan) to launch the next in their series of video testimonies of the current situation in Fukushima in various languages.

The eleventh instalment in the series, this latest video features an interview with Mr Itakura Masao, who returned to live in Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture. It is being released in English, French, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, German and Spanish, adding to the original Japanese.

"If you haven't seen Fukushima, you can't possibly imagine this reality."

The evacuation orders for the town of Tomioka in Fukushima Prefecture were lifted in 2017. Mr Itakura's home is about six kilometres from the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and he has recently returned to live in Tomioka. We visited Mr Itakura there, together with Ms Muto Ruiko of Miharu Town, Fukushima Prefecture.

Mr Itakura told us of the situation in Tomioka today, formerly part of the evacuation zone. He doesn't bring his grandchildren or children to visit because the radiation levels are still too high. Due to the limited availability of shops and services, despite being over 90 years old he still has to drive himself.

Please listen to Mr Itakura’s testimony, to hear the voices and ongoing situation of the community in Fukushima (about 7 mins). Click on the name of the language to view the corresponding video on Youtube.
 

English
French
Korean
Chinese (traditional)
Chinese (simplified)    
German
Spanish

Japanese

“Mieruka Project” Homepage (Other testimonies)