Coming of age in Fukushima

January 3, 2015

Fukushima evacuees hold 'Coming of Age' ceremony

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20160103_17.html

Jan. 3, 2016 - Updated 18:40 UTC+1

Young people who fled their hometown near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant 5 years ago have attended a "Coming of Age" ceremony. Japanese are legally considered adults when they turn 20.

The residents of Futaba Town were forced to evacuate, and many of them are now living in Iwaki City in the southeastern part of Fukushima Prefecture.

Sixty-three new adults, including evacuees who are now living outside the prefecture, attended Sunday's ceremony in Iwaki.

Futaba Mayor Shiro Izawa handed them certificates and asked them to work for the reconstruction of their hometown.

Keiichiro Sakai and Emi Nishimaki represented the new adults. They pledged that they will never forget Futaba and will contribute to the region, even though they have been separated by the disaster. They also said they will keep trying to achieve their dreams.

For some of the participants, it was their first reunion since the 2011 disaster.