Nuclear power plant disaster highlights importance of diverse safety measures (by Mainichi Shimbun)

In this March 20, 2011 aerial file photo taken by a small unmanned drone and released by Air Photo Service, the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant is seen in Okumamachi, Fukushima prefecture. From top to bottom: Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3 and Unit 4. (AP Photo/Air Photo Service)

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20110516p2a00m0na022000c.html

Fleeting visit home in the evacuation zone and sad reunion with pet dogs.

There were the signs of summer, like rape flower fields and a wealth of mountain vegetables, in Kawauchi Village (Fukushima Pref.). Surrounded by peaceful landscape, the residents in protective clothing were collecting and stuffing their personal belongings, such as bankbooks, photographs, summer clothing, etc., into a plastic bag, feeling it was too much to bear.

Five buses carrying evacuees from Kawauchi Village who had been permitted short home visits left the Kawauchi Village Sonmin Taiiku Center (physical education facility) past 11 a.m. Another bus with about 20 members of the press in protective suits on board followed them.

They were breathless in the heat due to hermetically sealed protective suits and their goggles fogged due to perspiration. A 30-minute bus ride in the fresh green of the mountain range brought them to the Yoshinodawa region. Seventeen people from 10 households returned to their home in this area.

Mr. Shoichi Akimoto (60), taking shelter in Yabuki-machi of the prefecture, paused in front of his house and nervously got near the dog house. After the earthquake and tsunami, he returned to home to feed his two dogs a few times, but he hasn't been able to take care of them for the past 40 days. The purpose of this visit was to check upon the dogs.

“John,” he quietly called the name of one of his dogs, but had no response. When he got near, he found that the two dogs were dead with their body curled up. “You could have been saved. I’m truly sorry…” Mr. Akimoto was shaken by sobs as he was taking the remains of his dogs in his arms. He buried them in a straw-spread hole.

The Yomiuri Shimbun, Mary 10, 2011
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20110510-OYT1T01063.htm?from=main4

Translated by Mikiko Yamashita

Serious inequalities emerge in disaster relief donation distribution in 3 prefectures (by Mainichi Shimbun)

Serious inequality has emerged in the allocation of citizens' donations for the surviving family of those who died in the March 11 quake and tsunami because the range of relatives entitled to payments is different in the three hardest-hit prefectures.


http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110514p2a00m0na015000c.html

Man dies after collapsing during Fukushima plant work (by Mainichi Shimbun)

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A worker at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant died Saturday after collapsing while carrying materials as part of crisis-fighting operations, the operator said.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110514p2g00m0dm011000c.html

Evacuation begins from widened no-go zone near Fukushima plant (by Mainichi Shimbun)

FUKUSHIMA (Kyodo) -- Residents in Kawamata and Iitate began leaving their homes Sunday after their living areas were included in an evacuation radius the government widened last month around the radiation-leaking Fukushima nuclear power plant.


http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110515p2g00m0dm013000c.html

City in Iwate to hire private firm to remove rubble in bid to speed up restoration (by Mainichi Shimbun)

OFUNATO, Iwate -- The municipal government here is set to consign the disposal of rubble and debris from the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami to a private business in a bid to accelerate the restoration of the city.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110513p2a00m0na003000c.html

Japan to cull livestock in no-go zone near Fukushima plant: Edano (by Mainichi Shimbun)

A cow lies dead on the floor of a cattle shed after residents were forced to evacuate from the deserted city of Minami-Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110513p2g00m0dm006000c.html