P. N. F. Thursday, July 15, 2021 Page1

Fukushima High School Cultural Federation Newspaper Division Fukushima High School C/O Asaka Reimei High School 2-3-3 Choja, Koriyama-City Cultural Federation 963-8017 Special Issue Newsletter Past Now Future Fukushima TEL 024-991-7313

TEPCs Fukushima aiichi Nuclear Power Plant From the Earthquake to the Future Fukushima Prefecture

Epicenter a magnitude .0, High school students report the present state of March 11, Fukushima, where reconstruction is progressing. 2011 2:46 p.m. On March 11, 2011, a massive magnitude 9.0 earthquake, the largest in the country's history, struck off the coast of Sanriku, causing severe damage to northeastern , including Fukushima Prefecture. Ten years later, about 35,000 people are Timeline of the Great East Japan Earthquake still evacuated both inside and outside Fukushima due to the . March 11, 2011 2:46 p.m. earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear disaster (in Fukushima The earthquake occurred : a magnitude 9.0, maximum as of June). Moreover, Fukushima's agricultural and marine seismic intensity 7 at the epicenter off Sanriku. Largest products have been facing difficult situations due to harmful earthquake ever recorded in Japan. Tsunami strikes. All AC rumors about radiation. In such a situation, we, the members power lost at Reactors 1-5 at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi of the newspaper clubs and committees from eleven high Nuclear Power Plant. schools in Fukushima, have gathered to tell people both at Core cooling system failed. Evacuation order for a home and abroad about our beautiful home, Fukushima. We are radius of 3 kilometers, and shelter-in-place order for a radius of committed to covering the current Fukushima ten years after 3 to 10 kilometers from the powerplant (Followed by meltdown the earthquake, from the viewpoints of high school students, in Reactors 1-3). while confirming the memory of the disaster. . April 5 Through this paper, we hope to report about Fukushima on Prefectural Board of Education announces that it will its road to recovery, and introduce the fascinating beauty each establish satellite schools for nine (later increased to ten) area of the prefecture has to offer. prefectural high schools, or 3,400 students in the evacuation We would like to let people know much more about area. Fukushima, taking advantage of the Tokyo Olympics and . January 2012 Paralympics as a perfect opportunity. Full-scale decontamination operation begins. We would also like you to visit Fukushima. . January 2014 This is our wish. The decision to decommission Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was made (partially decided in 2012). In 2021, I visited the coast of . April 8, 2015 Next Step Minamisoma. Damaged by the Fukushima Prefectural Futaba Future Junior and Senior High tsunami, the beaches were dotted School opened in Hirono. with piles of rubble here and there, with heavy equipment . July 2016 working to clean them up at full capacity. I was in the The evacuation order for Minamisoma was partially lifted. second grade of elementary school at the time of the . March-April 2017 earthquake, and I shuddered at the sight. Those broken On April 1, five prefectural high schools in the evacuation pieces may have been someone's house, school, or a park, areas, including Namie, were temporarily closed (stopped places filled with memories of people who lived there. recruiting students) Ten years have passed since the Great East Japan . March 14, 2020 Earthquake and most of the debris has been removed from The entire JR Joban Line completely reopened 9 years after many beaches. The roads have been cleared. There are even the quake, connecting the affected area and the metropolitan some areas where houses have been built. Beaches, which district. were heavily ravaged, have been restored by human hands. . March 11, 2021 Furthermore, the reopening of the J-Village football 10 years after the great earthquake. training center, once used as the base for the fight against The number of dead and missing persons nationwide, the nuclear accident, and now regarded as a symbol of including related deaths, is about 22,000 (about 4,100 in Fukushima's reconstruction, and the resumption of fishery Fukushima). can tell us that life is getting back to normal here. About 41,000 people have evacuated (36,000 in Fukushima Fukushima is on the road to recovery. Yet, problems still as of February 5). abound. The evacuation instructions for Futaba and Okuma . March 25, 2021 still have not been lifted. It will take Fukushima Daiichi The Tokyo Olympics Torch Relay started from J-Village. Nuclear Power Plant a lot of time to be decommissioned. Local high school students also took part to pass down the Harmful rumors are likely to cause damage as Japan flame of hope. decided this past April to release waste water from the It was postponed for one year due to the COVID-19 nuclear power plant into the sea. pandemic. However, we are no longer just watching the adults do their work like we were when the quake happened. Various threats such as the tsunami and the quake prevented us A Student from Futaba Future High School from doing anything. Relaying the Flame of Hope. We were so scared as children. But now, we can take The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic torch relay, which had been action because we know what is happening in Fukushima postponed due to the spread of COVID-19, began on March 25 in and we have more experience. We don't need to do big Fukushima Prefecture. things. Let's start from doing what we can do. The relay, which started from J-Village situated over in Hirono and Naraha, a symbol of the prefecture's reconstruction, runs through 47 prefectures nationwide over 121 days toward the Games opening day on July 23. Photos of the Great East Reina Arakawa (above) a second-year student at Futaba Future Japan Earthquake High School runs in Hirono on the first day of the relay. As a Hirono resident, she herself has experience with evacuation. She relayed the flame of hope with gratitude while receiving cheers from her teammates in the track and field club.

School entrance of Namie High School that closed after the earthquake. (December 2019)

Houses being washed away by the tsunami (Iwaki, March11, 2011) Ukedo Elementary School in Namie has been officially Yonomori District in Tomioka.A fence cuts the rows of A fishing boat washed up in the town area designafed the first earthquake remains in Fukushima. cherry trees. Evacuation order still imposed 10 years by the tsunami with a car passing nearby. All students. evacuafed safety before the 15 meters high after the catastrophe. (Soma, March23, 2011) tsunami hit goll. (December 2019) (March 2020) Page2 Thursday, July 15, 2021 P. N. F. Fukushima P. N. F. Fukushima Thursday, July 15, 2021 Page3

< Area Introduction > We a. Kenpoku Area In Fukushima City, the prefectural capital, the Fukushima Basin spreads, creating a large temperature Soso Area lcome to Fukushim gap between summer and winter. The cultivation of fruits thrives thanks to alluvial fans that spread over the city. Furthermore, many historic buildings, hot springs and traditional festivals make Fukushima even more attractive. < Area Introduction > Although access to Futaba and the mountainous areas are Introducing the Charm of Fukushima 1. Hanamiyama Park 2. Yuji Koseki still restricted, the coastal areas of Soma enjoy the recovery of Fukushima's most renowned flower wonderland. Praised Since the NHK morning drama series “Yell” not only fishery, but also greenhouse strawberries. by photographer Shotaro Akiyama as “Shangri-La in featured this Fukushima-born composer, his life has The area is also visited by many tourists, including surfers. Fukushima,” been the focus of nationwide attention. He wrote over The prefecture can be divided into 5 main districts according to its topography and the park offers 5,000 pieces. He composed marches, such as the 1. Matsukawaura Lagoon climate: “Kenpoku” and “Kennan” in the central region, “” in the western region, about 70 kinds “Olympic March” for the last Tokyo Olympics, “The A prefectural nature park with a view selected as one of the “Iwaki” to the south and “Soso”(Soma and Futaba areas) to the north of the coastal of flowering Crown Shines on You,” the song of the National High “hundred beautiful scenes of Japan.” trees on its School Baseball Championship, and many school region, facing the Pacific Ocean. On this page, each school will introduce; Matsukawaura, damaged by the earthquake 10 years ago, has 5-hectare songs in the prefecture. 1) famous sightseeing spots in each area, recovered its peacefulness. site.The view In March, his memorial museum reopened after 2) a famous person or traditional culture that has encouraged many is nothing but renovation to provide brighter, more spacious room people in the community during the difficult time since the earthquake, spectacular. for the exhibition. 2. Soma Nomaoi Horse Festival 3) items which we are proud of (agricultural and marine products, A traditional 3-day summer festival that has continued to this day traditional toys, etc.). 3. Fruit Kingdom with a history of over 1,000 years. It is designated as one of Japan's Important Intangible Cultural Assets. After reading these articles, we are sure that you will be The western province of Fukushima along Miko Kato, a Soma High School second-grade student, has fascinated with Fukushima. We are looking forward to your Route 5 is home to a wide range of different inherited the tradition as a horse-riding warrior of Nomaoi. As the fruits, including pears, peaches, apples and visit to Fukushima after the COVID-19 pandemic. festival participants age, many young people are willing to take on many more, making the route called the “Fruit the tradition since the earthquake. Line.” Although the festival was downscaled immediately after the Kazuko Abe (right), the owner of Abe Pear earthquake, it is now back in full swing, as people are determined to Orchard on the Fruit Line, values thorough pass it down to the next generation. safety and trusting relationships with consumers. Aizu Area Takayu Hot Spring (Fukushima) 3. Matsukawaura Sea Lettuce Popular in Soma, it is delicious when eaten in soups. It goes well in < Area Introduction > Hokki-chell rice (Soma) not only Japanese food, but also western food. It may sound a little unusual, but tempura is a popular way to eat sea The Aizu area is located on the west side of Fukushima Prefecture. The Aizu Basin is Tsurugajo Castle (Aizu) lettuce in the SoSo area. surrounded by many mountains, and it is hot and humid in summer and very cold with lots of Kenpoku snow in winter. Area Soso There has been an old teaching in Aizu, that is, “You must not do what you shouldn't do,” since the Edo era. The people in Aizu are modest and patient in personality. Area 1. Mt. Bandai Aizu Area It is the mountain that represents the Aizu Hattachi coast (Iwaki) Iwaki Area area, and is sung about in folk songs as a Shirakawa ramen (Shirakawa) Kennan “Treasure Mountain.” As the snow melts in Area < Area Introduction > spring, people start farming at the foot of the Iwaki City is one of many megacities in Japan. It is cool in summer and warm in winter, and they seldom mountain. You can see beautiful scenery Iwaki have snow. It is called the “Hawaii of Tohoku” because of its comfortable climate. Because of this, it is blessed throughout the year and enjoy a variety of with abundant fishing groups that produce “Joban-mono”, or many varieties of seafood from Iwaki. activities: climbing the mountain in summer, Area seeing colorful leaves in autumn, and skiing and snowboarding in winter. 1. Shiramizu Amidado Temple This temple is designated as a national treasure building. 2. Hideyo Noguchi < Area Introduction > Though there are few remaining Amida Temples, this one is Koriyama City is located in the middle of Fukushima Prefecture. It has a large traffic network. Shirakawa a unique temple which has a Pure Land style garden. The Originally from Town, Hideyo Noguchi Kennan Area City, located in the southern part of the prefecture, has a historical spot called the “Shirakawa no Seki.” This wall murals from the past were almost lost, but the restored devoted his life to the study of vipers and yellow fever. was the gate to Tohoku in ancient times. It is said to have been erected 1,500 years ago. colorful patterns now decorate the in side of the temple. When he was one and a half years old, he got burned on his left hand, causing severe disfiguration, and was forced to overcome this hurdle during his lifetime. Thanks to a 1. Miharu Takizakura 2. Eiji Tsuburaya lot of support and his own efforts, he became a global This weeping cherry tree is one of the three giant cherry trees of Born in Sukagawa City in 1901, Eiji bacteriologist and he was nominated as a candidate for the Japan. It is over 1,000 years old. Innumerable small, pink cherry Tsuburaya was a special effects director 2. Hula Girls Nobel Prize in Physiology and in Medicine three times. blossoms flow like a waterfall from the branches on all sides. and has been called a “god of special Iwaki is called the “Hawaii of Tohoku.” The Joban Coal He has also been the face of the ¥1,000 bill since 2004. Takizakura, which means “waterfall cherry tree” in Japanese, was effects.” From famous titles like Godzilla Mine competed in the tourism industry and opened the The Noguchi Memorial Medical Research Institute, named after this full bloom appearance. Every spring, you can and Ultraman, he brought new skills and Joban Hawaii Center in 1966 after coal mining became which was established in Ghana in 1979 with the support enjoy seeing the full vitality and majesty of the cherry blossoms ideas one after another, and produced a diminished. It became a famous amusement spot in Japan. of the Japanese government, is a research institute and a and the rapeseed blossoms that surround it. variety of works while drawing in fans In 1990, it was renamed Spa Resort Hawaiians. center of care in West Africa. worldwide. Even after becoming a famous After the Great East Japan Earthquake, it had to be It has played an important role in the PCR testing director, he never forgot his dreams. He continued to work hard and inspired the dreams closed for a long time, but the hula girls cheered up many system under the COVID-19 pandemic. The bond between of many people. people around Japan through their dance. This project was Japan and Ghana has made a great force in preventing the called “Kizuna Caravan.” spread of COVID-19. Rie Igai, who was a member of the hula girls at that time said, “Although we were going to cheer up the 3. Godzilla people, we got power from the audience instead.” Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, hula girls are still trying to After WWII ended, Tsuburaya established his bring people their smiles and feelings through online hula lessons. 3. Akabeko research in stitute at the Toho Film Studio and The Akabeko is a folk toy originally made in produced Godzilla in 1954. It was a big hit in Japan, Yanaizu Town, which was used as a was also screened in the U.S. and became a hot 3. Mehikari against evil. “Beko” means “cow” in the Tohoku topic. During filming, the special effects costume Mehikari live on the seabed south of Sanriku, is about 15 dialect. There is a legend about Akabeko. had to be put on and taken off by three people. centimeters long, and its standard Japanese name is aomeeso, Over 1,200 years ago, a cow contributed to This photo is the first Godzilla suit (restored), or “greeneye,” It is a special product of Iwaki City, and it is the rebuilding of a temple which was damaged which was used for “Dream Challenge: Godzilla named after its shiny, green eyes. It is characterized by its white by a large earthquake. It has also been said that Appears in Sukagawa” in 2018. The costume is on meat and its fluffy texture. You can enjoy it not only as sashimi Akabeko became a substitute for children who were suffering from smallpox. Akabeko have display at the Eiji Tsuburaya Museum in Sukagawa but also as tempura, or deep fried. fascinated and encouraged people living in the Aizu area for a long time. City. (photo: National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives) Page4 Thursday, July 15, 2021 P. N. F. Fukushima

Fukushima's Future: Editorial:The Earthquake and COVID-19

Ten years ago, March 11, 2011. A massive earthquake of magnitude 9.0 on High school students of Fukushima the Richter scale struck eastern Japan, followed by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident and other complex disasters that claimed the lives of more than 22,000 people. The towns on the coast were destroyed by Becoming Japan's Best in G.A.P. a Tsunami, and countless people lost their families, friends, places to live Eighteen crops, such as rice, apples or Japanese white radish, at Iwase Agricultural High School in and other things that ware important to them. After the Great East Japan Kagamiishi Town have been certified by the international certification system “Global G.A.P. (Good Earthquake, discrimination against people in Fukushima and damage caused Agricultural Practices)”. This set a record among Japanese high schools. According to the system of by harmful rumors began. Children who had evacuated and taken refuge certification, agricultural producers who work in food safety, environmental protections or occupational from Fukushima were often bullied at school. Rocks were thrown at cars safety are qualified to receive certification. with Fukushima license plates. After the students visited the Netherlands for studies and training, and learned that the local students Though products from Fukushima were safe, many shops and businesses of their host city thought that “Fukushima's food is dangerous” because of the nuclear accident, they refused them, saying, “We can't eat products from Fukushima.” The were shocked, and it sparked in them the desire to become certified. They wanted many people to know “invisible fear,”such as radioactive materials and radioactivity, gave people that Fukushima's food is safe by producing their food safely. That was their starting point. a lot of anxiety. Mei Hoshi, then a second-year student, said, “By getting G.A.P., we want to overcome rumors that Currently, as the spread of COVID-19 continues,there are many cases of crops from Fukushima are dangerous to eat after the Great East Japan Earthquake.” During the process, prejudice and discrimination against infected people, healthcare workers a third-year student participated in the certification examination as a representative of the students. They reported that it was difficult and their families. In fact, mindless harassment against infected people have to show specified documents on the spot from a huge amount of materials. They also shelled legumes by hand one at a time for the been occurring in the prefecture. inspection of pesticide residue. Even in the process of production, certain work was required as prescribed. However, the student The “invisible fear” of viruses is hurting the hearts of many people and continued their activities, thinking that it was not difficult because they were common activities in the production process. causing unprovoked discrimination. Iwase Agricultural High School aims to keep improving their quality of crops in the future. They want to further deepen their ties Both the discrimination caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and with local communities and companies in Fukushima, and produce and share foods that contain ingredients from their school. They COVID-19 are the result of anxiety and unease caused by the “invisible have a goal to let people know more about the charm of Fukushima through their food. fear” of radioactive materials and viruses.

Chemistry Group of Natural Science Club Activity as a Fukushima Ambassador of Challenges Environmental Issues Reconstruction The Chemistry Group of Natural Science Club of Iwaki Prefectural High Ryusei Takano is a second-year student in Fukushima High School is conducting research with an interest in local Iwaki environmental School in Fukushima City. he has been a Fukushima ambassador issues. Here are three activities they are pursuing. of reconstruction since he was a third-year student in junior high The purification team is studying the purification effect of water from waste school. He was selected from people junior high school age and called “fly ash” produced at thermal power plants. Solidifying fly ash in powder above by FUKUSHIMA-MINPO, a local newspaper in Fukushima. form can purify rivers and recycle waste for the environment. He is working for the recovery of Fukushima after the Great East The COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) team measures Iwaki's water quality Japan Earthquake and subsequent accident at the Tokyo Electric and soil pollutants using a standard called COD. Currently, they are conducting Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. research for a more accurate measurement. The reason Mr. Takano applied for this ambassadorship is that he was born in the area The Marine Plastics team is conducting research on biodegradable plastics to solve the micro plastic problem. Since which was damaged badly during the accident. biodegradable plastics return to nature, the goal is to process them like conventional plastic products and commercialize “I was evacuated shortly after the accident. I followed my parents without knowing them. why we had to evacuate. After that, I kept thinking about what I could do,” Mr. Takano says. He finds value in himself as a victim of the earthquake and disaster, an asset as Taking Over the Traditional Performances someone who can share their experience. Mr. Takano is also engaged in various activities Soma Agricultural High School in Minamisoma City has been showing off the local performing arts at their “sports day” for the reconstruction of Fukushima and the handing down of the Great Earthquake. When since 1928. All school students learn down the local performing arts, like Mikagura, Taue Odori, and Hozai Odori that he writes essays or makes videos, he pays close attention to conveying to people that the are handed down in the area. In particular, Nagare Odori, a dance to soma folk songs and a designated intangible cultural Great Earthquake was “a lot,” “long” and “enormous”. property, is a wonderful dance in which more than 50 students wear beautiful clothing. They are taught how to play the He did various activities outside the prefecture and abroad but most of these activities conch shell and the shino whistle, as well as how to dance, were canceled by COVID-19 last year. But Mr. Takano has a great enthusiasm for by local people. resuming activities as he wants to restart them after infections of the corona virus settle Daichi Tasaka and Shinnosuke Nishihata, current second- down as he has doubts about the image of Fukushima people outside Fukushima have. grade students, have been participating in these traditional “It is often said ‘Fukushima was reconstructed,’ but I don't think so. I will continue my arts since they were first grade students. They also have activities outside the prefecture to tell people about the present situation of Fukushima,” been participating in the Soma Nomaoi Festival since they he decided. were in their second-year of junior high school, and have Mr. Takano says that he wants to work in a medical institution someday to promote the a strong awareness and sense of responsibility to inherit reconstruction of Fukushima through working to improve community medicine. “People Soma's traditions. They said with smiles, “Soma-Nomaoi are suffering from a shortage of doctors in remote areas and cannot receive satisfactory is cool and we think it is good that it makes us feel like medical services themselves. I want to solve such hollowing of community medicine and Samurai. We want a lot of people to see it.” help the reconstruction,” he said about his ambitions with determination.

Inheriting Cultural Legacy: Saotome Dance The Saotome dance, which originated in the Taisho era, is the traditional performing art of been unknown. They asked local Town. The Saotome Dance Preservation Club of Aizu-Norin High School, which is located in Aizubange residents to revive the dance together. Town, is now one of the main successors of the dance. In the past, many preservation societies existed in Their activities are now indispensable the town, but most of them were dissolved due to the lack of successors. Aizubange town hall offcials had for the succession of the local culture. a sense of impending crisis that the Saotome dance would become extinct, so they asked Aizu-Norin High However, the members of the club School to support their efforts and inherit the dance. The then members of the student council responded to had no chance to dedicate the Mai the request and discussed what they could do for the town. They appealed to the students to act and inherit dance last year due to COVID-19. this cultural legacy. Nine female students volunteered and started taking part in the local preservation The current members said society for the first time in 2008, which was the beginning of the Saotome Dance Preservation Club. excitedly, “Inheriting this traditional As of May, 2021, twenty-two students belong to the club. They are now in charge of playing Japanese culture is very important, not only in inheriting the dance itself, but also in developing closer relationships drums and flutes, singing utai, a kind of recitation, and dressing in kimono, as well as dancing. They take among local people. We would like to spread this feeling both inside and outside of Fukushima.” They part in various events, such as Otaue-matsuri, the local rice planting ceremony held on July 7 to dedicate the are now trying to share their ideas with people around the world by posting their activities on the school dance to the god of the local shrine, as well as events held all over Japan to support the earthquake recovery homepage or uploading videos on YouTube. in Fukushima. They contributed much to the restoration of the dance of Ougi no Mai, whose existence had

The Power of Yeast P. N. F. Fukushima Editors' school We spoke with Ryoma Yoshida and Mao Watanabe, who won the highest prize in the science section of the P. N. F. Fukushima Seiryo Joho High School 【Japanese version】 Shirakawa High School Fukushima Prefectural High School Cultural Federation and are scheduled to participate in the National High Aizu High School Tamura High School School Comprehensive Cultural Festival. “The motive for the research was the Fukushima Daiich Nuclear Asaka High School Fukushima High School Asaka Reimei High School Power Plant accident. We thought that, by developing products with original yeast, we could aim to eliminate Iwaki High School 【English version】 the damage caused by rumors. In order to promote the region, we tried and finally succeeded in cultivating Koriyama North Technical High School Asaka Reimei High School yeast from Asakawa-zakura, which has a famous reputation in Fukushima,” they said. Koriyama East High School Sukagawa Toyo High School International Exchange Committee “We are collecting data by tasting breads made with this yeast in school. We want the juniors to remember the goal of ‘commercialisation’,” they said, thinking about their goals. “Finally, we learned the importance of abandoning stereotypes and disseminating correct information in our research. We don't adhere to a particular Editor's Note way of thinking and are always open to new ways of looking at things. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this newspaper. Ten years have passed since Collecting scientifically correct information and disseminating it responsibly the Great East Japan Earthquake. Recovery from the disaster is progressing little by little, but can help prevent reputational damage. We high school students have to be there are still many problems, including reputational damage. careful,” they said, expressing their determi nation. The members of newspaper clubs and committees at sever al prefectural high schools edited * Asakawa-zakura comes from Kanichi Asakawa, a graduate of Yale this newspaper, and some students from two high schools cooperated in translating it into University and the first Japanese historian to become a professor at the English in order to share the great qualities of Fukushima with many more people. We hope you university. will visit and enjoy all that Fukushima has to offer after reading this newspaper. There is an anecdote about Asakawa eating an English dictionary after Finally, we would like to heartily thank all those who cooperated together in order to make memorizing it and burying the remaining covers. this newspaper possible.