Article on diverging views of recovery in Fukushima

This study examines the results of an online survey of

Fukushima residents on their impressions of the re-

construction process ten years after the 2011 Great

East Japan Earthquake. It aims to gauge the lev-

els of approval and satisfaction that participants have

with support for survivors, housing and community

reconstruction, industrial and livelihood regeneration,

efforts to decontaminate “difficult to return” zones,

measures taken to counter harmful rumors, and the

use of the reconstruction budget. The key findings

are that many participants found little to be satis-

fied with after the disaster and that the most criti-

cal groups were those who had been directly affected

by the disaster and older people. Actions that were

seen as successful included provision of public emergency housing, the use of the media in counteracting rumors, the opening of major transport links, and efforts to restore agricultural activities. Going forward, the participants were most concerned about whether support for isolated elderly people would continue and whether long-term medical, emotional, and financial support would continue for survivors.