Removing an Evacuation Order and the Realities of Reconstruction in an Area Damaged by the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Disaster: Naraha, Fukushima

Abstract

Among the four municipalities where the Fukushima No. 1 and 2 nuclear power stations (F1 and F2) are located, only the town of Naraha had its evacuation order lifted on September 5, 2015. Nevertheless, one year later, the ratio of returnees to Naraha remained at less than 10%. The main reasons for this are not only that evacuees have established new homes at places of refuge during the lengthy term of the evacuation, but also that their hometown is no longer what it was before the accident. This paper analyzes what happened during the four and one-half years the evacuation order was in place and how it affected the current status of and efforts to reconstruct this town.