Rotary International 2530district community service committee
The Earthquake, NuclearAccident, and the Women of Fukushima
Return to Menu| Encounter with the Great Tohoku Earthquake Katsu Inomata (Kori Town) | |
I was on my way to Tokyo and Yokohama, when I met the earthquake at Yokohama station. I was disappointed that the concert I had come to see that night was cancelled, and passed the night in uncertainty, following news of the extent of the tsunami damage in the Tohoku area on the hotel television. While I was relieved that I was able to contact my husband by telephone that night, I was forced to stay at the hotel in Tokyo for ten days. I finally returned home to Fukushima by emergency flight, but I was shocked by the large amount of damage to my hometown. My town is located just 60 km away from the nuclear plant, but around 80 people from the immediate disaster area evacuated to the community center here. Once I returned home, I prepared daily necessities and supplies for them, with the help of the people in charge. I think I would like to help as much as possible in taking care of the people who will enter temporary housing in the future. One Year and Three Months Later Our town is located on the border between Fukushima Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture. It is known for its fruit. The peaches are especially famous, and were even strenuously checked and presented to the Royal Family last year. In spite of the strict inspection, harmful rumors have caused serious damage to their reputation, and less than 30% of the peaches produced last year were sold. It was a huge and unexpected blow to the farmers. The damage is not limited to the northern part of Fukushima. Once people hear "Fukushima", you can be totally rejected by suppliers. For the farmers, this is adding insult to injury. Radioactive decontamination is also causing us a lot of trouble. Schools and kindergartens in this area were decontaminated quickly, but the temporary storage areas are another big issue which has not yet been solved. The debris has been left in a corner of the village, and has completely changed the scenery. Families with small children evacuate outside of the prefecture; some of them must live separately, and are forced to endure it. Nothing can be done about the terror caused by anxiety due to the invisible threat of nuclear radiation. 2013 Fukushima from Now I wonder, during the long history of Japan up until now, how many tragic natural or man-made disasters have been repeated? But I think that here in Fukushima, a disaster such as this great earthquake and the nuclear disaster has never occurred before. I think that this disaster fits in with the history of the Aizu clan. Even though the clan experienced many long and difficult hardships after the Meiji Era Civil War, with sweat and tears, great effort and wisdom, they never lost their "Aizu spirit". I feel strongly that the Fukushima of today should remember this lesson. At the end of a lecture in the park last year, the presenter said, "If women have the strength, we will definitely be able to rebuild." From now on, for the sake of Fukushima we should say, "No to nuclear plants!", so that the following generations will feel strongly about taking up these issues. |