We Are Tomodachi Spring 2017

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18Steady Progress on Decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power StationOverwhelmed by the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station lost its ability to cool the reactors, and overheating of the fuel caused a hydrogen explosion. Now the reactors are under continuous water-injection cooling, and stable conditions are being maintained.The cooling water is purified and recycled, and multilevel protective measures are being taken to prevent water contamination and outflows of contaminated water, such as by pumping up groundwater, building an impermeable wall, and treating contaminated water with radioactive material removal equipment. Information about the status of these measures is constantly disclosed in Japan and internationally; for example, reports are regularly submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Currently, about 6,000 workers are proceeding safely and steadily with decommissioning work at the site of the power station. Initially they needed to wear protective clothing, but their workplace environment has improved, and now they can wear ordinary uniforms in about 90% of their work area.Stepping Up Measures to Allow Residents to ReturnAfter the earthquake, the Japanese government issued evacuation orders for severely affected areas of Fukushima Prefecture for the sake of residents’ safety. Since then work has been progressing to restore electricity, gas, water, and other services and to decontaminate the areas. Now the evacuation orders are being lifted in one area after another as the necessary conditions are met, and people are moving back to their hometowns.Fukushima Today160012008004000Apr.2014Dec.2014Apr.2015Oct.2015Mar.2016Jul.2016(households)Minamisoma CityKatsurao VillageNaraha TownKawauchi VillageTamura CityFukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station 20 km (12 miles) Futaba TownNamie TownOkuma TownMinamisoma CityIitate VillageKawamata TownKatsurao VillageTamura City Kawauchi VillageTomioka TownNaraha TownHirono TownFutaba TownNamie TownOkuma TownMinamisoma CityIitate VillageKawamata TownKatsurao VillageTamura City Kawauchi VillageTomioka TownNaraha TownHirono TownAreas where the evacuation order has already been liftedOn Mar. 31, 2017Iitate Village, EvacuationOrder to be liftedOn Mar. 31, 2017Kawamata Town, EvacuationOrder to be liftedValues for locations outside of Japan are as measured from July 13–15, 2016. Values for locations in Japan are as measured on December 1, 2016.Source: Fukushima Prefecture, “Fukushima fukko no ayumi” (English version: “Steps for Revitalization in Fukushima”), 18th ed., based on Reconstruction Agency (Japan), “Basic Information on Radiation Risk,” and materials from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and France’s Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire (IRSN).Minamiaizu Town0.04Shirakawa City0.08Iwaki City0.07Minamisoma CityFukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power StationFukushima City0.08Koriyama City0.10Aizuwakamatsu City0.06Shinjuku City, Tokyo0.03Paris0.04Munich0.08Seoul0.11Beijing0.07New YorkRadiationmeasurements0.04Singapore0.100.17Unit: microsieverts/hour (μSv/h)Number of households returning to hometowns after evacuation orders liftedSource: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Indutry, compiled from data collected by local governments.The Japanese government is aiming to lift evacuation orders in some areas in Tomioka and Namie Town in spring 2017.Source: Fukushima Prefecture, "Fukushima fukko no ayumi" (English version: "Steps for Revitalization in Fukushima"), 18th ed.Thanks to decontamination efforts at the site of the power station, full-body suits and face masks are no longer mandatory in 90% of the site.Photo: Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. Related videohttps://youtu.be/Hi_afnXdNHsAreas subject to evacuation orders