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We have absolutely no idea at this point about the future, because we do not even know where we want to live -- much less whether we want to rent another apartment or build a new home.

6 Comments

Mayumi Takahashi, 44, who lives in Niigata with her husband and two elementary school-aged children. The family moved there after voluntarily evacuating from Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, following the disaster. (Mainichi Shimbun)

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After five years they still have no idea?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

With the government telling people it is safe. With services for the victims being largely siphoned off by corruption. With desires to reunite their communities but no clear way of doing so. YES sensei258, people are still struggling.

I have met a lot of people from the north who are disaffected. They have lived in limbo for quite some time over the fate of their home areas. They have often had to recreate lives ad hoc in hopes of finding work, schools and some semblance or normal.

Many are still dealing with the horror of having significant numbers of their neighbours and loved ones killed and never found.

So yes Sensei258, people are still trying to sort out their lives.

I wonder how well you would be doing in their shoes five years on? Until you have talked to these people. Until you have been to their cities and seen the devastation. Until you have helped reassemble photo albums of people you know are dead and who have left families grieving for them, then I suspect you have no idea.

But this is easily fixed. Go volunteer in the north. Go help people and hear their stories. Then maybe you won't post comments that illustrate so little understanding of the plight of other people.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

RainMonster

I dont think I would ever be alright ! Can't imagine the pain that people went thru

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What is the context of this??? Seems they have already moved on to Niigata.....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Many people moved with voluntary relocation programs. However, most have had a hard time settling in new areas successfully. Beyond that many people have been harbouring hope of restoring their home communities and returning. The government and independent agencies are saying conflicting things about how possible that is.

The limbo is a perfect storm of many issues that leave people up on the air long term.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

People forget that you have the internet(s) now. If you choose you could easily get in contact with your old community and friends. Something the Gov could facilitate.

People think that they are the only ones going thru a certain situation when if fact you probably have 100,000s thinking the same thing.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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