We Are Tomodachi Autumn 2017

22/36

22Six years have passed since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, and the prefecture of Fukushima is making steady progress in its reconstruction and revitalization. Fukushima has long been famous for its agriculture, known since old times as one of Japan’s premier rice-growing regions, and also earning the nickname “The Fruit Kingdom.” Fukushima’s agriculture suffered drastically after the earthquake and the nuclear power accident that followed, but as a result of thorough safety measures implemented through national efforts, foods produced in Fukushima have been recognized as safe by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), as well as by many individual countries, and the prefecture’s exports are increasing. Japan hopes that more and more people will enjoy the safe and delicious foods from Fukushima in the years to come.Fukushima Foods: Safe and DeliciousDirector-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports Japan’s efforts to ensure food safety in FukushimaThe latest assessment of the food safety situation in Fukushima by the Joint FAO/IAEA Division* (May 2017) reports that “measures [taken by the Japanese authorities] to monitor and respond to issues regarding radionuclide contamination of food are appropriate, and that the food supply chain is controlled effectively by the relevant authorities.” In support of this assessment, Dr. José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of FAO, who participated in the Fukushima Sweets Tasting Event held publicly in Tokyo on 10 May 2017 during his visit to Japan, commended the Government of Japan for being “very supportive and very transparent in the face of this situation” and reassured that “we don’t see any reason to raise concern about the safety of food [from Fukushima].”*FAO and IAEA have the Joint FAO/IAEA Division, which regularly assess the food safety situation in Fukushima, based on the information provided by the Government of Japan.Dr. José Graziano da SilvaDirector-General, FAO• Fukushima Reconstruction Mascot: KibitanA mascot designed based on a bird known as kibitaki (narcissus flycatcher), local to Fukushima Prefecture. Kibitan has been a mascot character representing Fukushima Prefecture since 1995, and since 2011, he has been a symbol of the region’s reconstruction.FukushimaPref.