Information on Fukushima disaster added to radiation booklets

March 3, 2014

Education ministry revises booklets on radiation

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140303_16.html 

Japan's education ministry has revised its instructional booklets on radiation by adding details on the impact of Tokyo Electric's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident.

The ministry published the original booklets in October of 2011, about 6 months after the disaster. But many teachers complained that the booklets lacked sufficient information on the accident itself.

The new booklets include maps of the areas affected by radiation from the crippled power plant as well as places from which residents were forced to evacuate.

They also explain the impact of harmful rumors about the disaster on the farming and tourism industries.

The booklets say that some children who had evacuated from Fukushima were bullied in places where they relocated.

Education ministry officials say they hope the materials will provide accurate facts about Fukushima to help school children make the right decisions.

The ministry plans to post the booklets online soon and will start distributing printed copies to schools in April.

Mar. 3, 2014 - Updated 02:56 UTC