2016 Volume 45 Pages 19-29
In this paper, we consider a long-term, large-scale evacuation and the search for community by a case study on evacuees from Fukushima Nuclear Accident in Niigata Prefecture. We have interviewed evacuees from the evacuation area near the plant. In those interviews, we focused on their life processes and future prospects, their community in Fukushima and things they had lost. In spite of the superficial stability of their life, we found that their perplexity and restlessness had increased. Why they suffered such a distress?
The evacuees may be forced to live “the dimension of life” without “the dimension of existence”. They have lost their future prospects, sufficient time for their true recovery, “rooted” lifestyle and approval from their community. It is essential for the evacuees to recover from their suffering, that a restoration of “the dimension of existence” not to mention a reconstruction of “the dimension of life”.
