Experience With Fukushima Farmers

Earlier this year, I went on a "Hands on Tokyo" trip to Fukushima. The goal was to help farmers rebuild, and help them with farming in general. Although optimistic and able to farm now, they also shared some stories of their hardship. For example, one family who had always been farmers were shocked by the triple disaster and the fact that their soil was filled with radiation. When they got clear for the first time, the husband and wife decided that because farming was their passion they would go back to doing so. The only problem was, should they go back to farm at the cost of a separated family or health risks. They decided to ask their little boy, who was only a few years old back then. He said to them, he would risk being sick if it meant they could all go back TOGETHER and farm together. That really stuck with me, because it showed not only the hardship this one family went through but also their dedication to their work and duties as farmers in Fukushima.