KAZO, Saitama Prefecture--Santa Claus may be universal, but the one who turned up to visit child evacuees from the Fukushima nuclear disaster needed an interpreter nevertheless.
KAZO, Saitama Prefecture--Santa Claus may be universal, but the one who turned up to visit child evacuees from the Fukushima nuclear disaster needed an interpreter nevertheless.
The Santa, officially registered with the Santa Claus Foundation of Finland, handed out calendars and sweets to the evacuees at their temporary new home in the former Kisai Senior High School here on Dec. 7.
Speaking through an interpreter, he said: "I hope that you will be able to return to the Tohoku (region)."
The children were evacuated from their homes in Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture, immediately after disaster struck the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in March.
"I was happy with the visit. Though I was surprised to see his long beard, his hand was very warm," said Rina Kusano, 10.