Abe in Fukushima: Recovery is underway

March 08, 2014

Abe visits Fukushima ahead of March 11 anniversary

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140308_28.html 

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Fukushima Prefecture on Saturday, 3 days before the 3rd anniversary of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters.

In Tamura City, he met with residents of Miyakoji District. They'll be allowed to return to their homes on April 1st when an evacuation order for the district is expected to be lifted. It will be the first evacuation order lifted since the nuclear accident.

Abe asked residents to express their thoughts. One of them said he wants the government to consider building playgrounds for children as schools will reopen. He said he thinks the return of many children will help lead to the city's recovery.

Abe also visited a center for tourism and local products in Iwaki City. He tasted freshly-caught fish and squid that were captured as part of a test program being carried out to check radiation levels in marine products. Abe pledged to do his best to allay concerns about radioactive contamination of food products from the prefecture.

He inspected a site in Ogawara District, Okuma Town. As part of efforts to rebuild the region, there is a plan to build facilities to study decontamination and the decommissioning of reactors.

Abe told reporters he felt the recovery in Fukushima is in underway. He said he will do his best to rebuild the prefecture as he thinks there will be no revival for Japan without the reconstruction of Fukushima.

Mar. 8, 2014 - Updated 13:21 UTC