The narrator visits the Fukushima exclusion zone eight years after the nuclear disaster, exploring the devastated towns, meeting locals, and learning about the ongoing decontamination efforts. The area was ravaged by a tsunami that killed over 20,000 people and triggered the nuclear meltdown, leaving behind a trail of destruction and radioactive contamination. The government has been working to decontaminate the area, but the process is slow and complex, with many areas still inaccessible due to high radiation levels.
The narrator visits the town of Ukedo, which was completely destroyed by the tsunami, and meets Katsumi Arakawa, one of the first returning evacuees who has started a flower business in the area. Despite the challenges, the narrator notes that there are signs of hope, including the growth of solar power plants in the exclusion zone, which could provide a new source of income for local landowners.
The narrator reflects on Japan's ability to recover from disasters, citing the examples of Onagawa and Hiroshima, but acknowledges that Fukushima's recovery will take much longer. The visit provides a glimpse into the devastating consequences of nuclear power gone wrong, but also offers a sense of hope for the future.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station was once one of the largest operational nuclear power stations on the planet.
2. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster is considered one of the worst man-made disasters in history.
3. A devastating tsunami moved the entire planet off its axis and led to the nuclear disaster.
4. The clean-up operation for the disaster is estimated to cost $200bn and will take 40 years to complete.
5. 70,000 workers are involved in the clean-up effort.
6. 355,000 trucks have been used in the clean-up effort to carry contaminated soil.
7. The exclusion zone is situated on Fukushima's remote east coastline, across a 70-kilometer mountain range.
8. The exclusion zone is not a simple radius around the power plant but a patchwork of towns that have been cleaned up and dense forests that have yet to be decontaminated.
9. The tsunami that hit Fukushima ultimately killed over 20,000 people on March 11, 2011.
10. Ukedo School was just 200 meters from the shoreline when the tsunami struck, but all 80 students were evacuated to safety.
11. The town of Ukedo was washed away by a 15-meter wave, taking 300 people with it.
12. Only 20% of the original cherry blossom street in Tomioka remains.
13. The rest of the cherry blossom street is located inside the no-go zone.
14. Residents can get permission to enter the no-go zone.
15. The government has decontaminated some areas, including the coastline near Tomioka.
16. Radiation levels in decontaminated areas are similar to those in Tokyo.
17. Over 2 million cubic meters of topsoil have been removed from the exclusion zone as part of a $29bn operation.
18. The soil and debris are packed into bags and stored in temporary locations.
19. Japan's reconstruction agency estimates there have been over 2,200 disaster-related deaths due to trauma and stress.
20. Almost 42,000 evacuees still live outside the area.
21. The Japanese government aims to decontaminate Fukushima to allow evacuees to return to their homes.
22. Radiation levels in some areas of the exclusion zone are higher than in Tokyo.
23. The government has ordered remaining farmers to euthanize their cattle due to radioactive fallout.
24. Masami Yoshizawa refused to euthanize his 328 cows and has been keeping them alive despite the radiation risks.
25. Yoshizawa's cows were worth 450 million yen before they were exposed to radiation.
26. He accepts donations of food, including pineapple skins, to feed the cows.
27. Iwaki city, 30 kilometers south of the exclusion zone, has fully recovered from the tsunami.
28. Radiation levels in Iwaki city are similar to those in Tokyo.
29. The Japanese government has provided financial support to farmers who have lost their livelihoods due to the disaster.
30. Some farmers have started growing flowers in the exclusion zone despite the challenges.
31. Katsumi Arakawa, a former evacuee, has started a business growing flowers in the exclusion zone.
32. The exclusion zone has seen an influx of solar panels, with thousands installed in fields.
33. The solar panels are being used to generate clean energy and provide an alternative source of income for landowners.
34. The Japanese government aims to create jobs in the exclusion zone through initiatives such as solar power and agriculture.
35. Tomioka's empty streets have come to life during the cherry blossom season, with friends and families partying and celebrating.
36. The exclusion zone will take a long time to recover, far longer than other areas affected by the tsunami.