​​A new way of selecting food, raising children, producing and selling products, enjoying culture... Living in an area contaminated by radioactive fallout means finding new ways to regain control over everyday life, to make and share calm decisions.

This is no easy task, but the experience of those who participated in the Dialogue Initiative for improvement of living conditions after the Fukushima accident showed that there is a way. And the first step was measurement.​

You can’t see it, you can’t smell it, and you can't touch it, but the radioactivity is there. Day and night, everywhere, inside and outside, taking control of your life and dictating the rules of a game you never even wanted to play but now cannot escape. How does one attack an insidious and faceless enemy? How does one overcome this invisible force and beat it into submission? You start by giving it a face. And this is possible by measuring everything, everywhere​.

Measurement is not just an option, it is an absolute necessity. It's the starting point for assessment of the situation, the only way to move from perception to reality, the way to make radioactivity tangible.​​

​​​​Measurement makes it possible to identify sources of exposure and to start to truly deal with the situation and finally restore some order. It is up to each person to perform self-monitoring, since there is no such thing as a “standard person.” Over time, these measurements constitute a personal database, in which one can note any variations in radioactivity levels and discuss results with relatives, neighbors, and experts, thus restoring dialogue within the community.

Day after day, for the motivated, recording measurement results became a habit, like checking the expiration date on food packaging. From the youngest to the oldest, from the kitchen to the bedroom, from rice to fish, everything must be measured: mountains, fields, gardens, roads, parking lots, buildings, playgrounds, kindergartens, tap water, meals... All of Fukushima’s residents gradually became familiar with measurement techniques and devices.

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MEASURING RADIOACTIVITY IN ITS ENVIRONMENT

The residents used two types of counters to measure the dose rate in the air, expressed in microsieverts per hour. Portable devices were used to detect radioactivity in the nearby environment (home, garden, playground, forest path, etc.).

In parallel, a broad network of fixed measurement stations was deployed throughout the prefecture of Fukushima to indicate the dose rate in the atmosphere. These stations indicating the radiation levels in the environment are now an integral part of the landscape in many urban and rural areas of the prefecture of Fukushima, including Fukushima, Date, Iitate, and Tamura.

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​SELF-MEASUREMENT OF EXPOSURE

External exposure to radiation can be measured using a standard glass badge personal dosimeter carried all day for a few months to calculate cumulative exposure. This is the type of device that the mayor of Date distributed to residents of the city.

Radioactivity can also be measured by carrying an electronic dosimeter called a D-Shuttle, which records both cumulative and hourly exposure. Nearly each family in Suetsugi has a D-Shuttle dosimeter, allowing them to see where and when they are exposed to ionizing radiation. Designed to measure a person's exposure to gamma radiation, the D-Shuttle dosimeter has a battery life of one year. Reading the total integrated dose rate is easy, and reports can be printed as well. By matching the doses indicated throughout the day to one's activities, this type of graph allows a person carrying a D-Shuttle dosimeter to adjust their activities to manage exposure.

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MEASUREMENT OF INTERNAL CONTAMINATION

​Other devices can be used to measure internal contamination. Using a whole-body counter, it is possible to measure radioactivity absorbed through inhalation and ingestion of food and beverages. Many of this type of equipment were deployed in the prefecture of Fukushima, providing for the measurement of 270,000 adults between 2011 and 2015.

The initial goal of these whole-body counters was to measure the contamination of people working in the nuclear facilities, thus adults. They were used to measure contamination of Fukushima’s residents. But families regularly voiced their concerns regarding the possible contamination of the children. This being brought to the attention of Professor Ryugo Hayano of the University of Tokyo, he got to work with Shunji Yamanaka, a design engineer in the industry, to develop the Babyscan, the first whole-body counter adapted for accurate measurement of the internal exposure of babies and small children. This specially designed device is capable of detecting particularly low contamination levels. Three devices of this type were used in the Fukushima prefecture. Of the some 2,700 babies and small children tested by 2015, none had detectable exposure. ​

Ryugo Hayano, Professeur, professor in the physics department at the University of Tokyo

Were the measurements of children truly necessary? Strictly from the point of view of radiation protection, I don't think so. But a lot of mothers told me that they would like their children to be tested. And since there was no suitable device for this, in 2012, we began developing a whole-body counter specially designed for children.

MEASURING FOOD

​Easy-to-use systems are available in certain communities of Fukushima for measuring food samples, such as fruits, vegetables, and meat. This makes it possible for residents to measure the food from their garden, wild vegetables from the mountains, etc.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​FROM DATA COLLECTION TO CITIZEN-EXPERT DIALOGUE

Taking measurements is one thing, but interpreting results is another. In addition to learning how to handle the measurement equipment, residents had to acquire basic knowledge on units of measurement, the notion of a detection limit, and the mechanisms by which radiation transfers into the environment. Measurement results must be interpreted with caution, first of all since they depend on context, and second because there is no clear boundary between what is safe and what is dangerous.

However, the development of a culture of radiation protection, which allows each person to know where, when, and how they were exposed and to take action to control exposure, is not just a matter of knowledge. It means balancing considerations of lifestyle to make sound decisions with regard to daily exposure, it means regaining control of one's life.

Responding to a question as simple as “W​​hat should I do to protect myself and my family?” requires thought and sometimes good advice. That’s why communication between residents - within the family, with neighbors, etc. - supported by experts, is an integral part of the process. In addition to the results they provide, whole-body counter measurements and measurements of food products also provide an opportunity to create dialogue, to listen to people’s concerns, to advise parents on the health of their children.

Makoto Miyazaki, a radiologist at Fukushima Medical University, and Masaharu Tsubokura, doctor at the hospital of Minamisoma, took advantage of medical visits for whole-body counter measurements to discuss results with residents.

​​​​Makoto Miyazaki, assistant professor of the Department of Radiology of Fukushima Medical University

There are many ways to approach the subject of measurement results, but the important part is what's important to people living here, things like: Is the situation liveable, and if so, to what extent? You, as a person, must decide what you will eat tomorrow, where you will go tomorrow, etc. Express your needs honestly, and if the measurement results are not in line with what’s possible for you, then that means it's not good for you.

Masaharu Tsubokura, Medical Doctor, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital

While systematic radiological monitoring did not reveal any internal cesium exposure in children in Fukushima, there are still people who say they cannot consume products from the prefecture. Our work is to continue radiological surveillance and to do so honestly.​​

FREE AT LAST

The experience of those performing measurements shows that the radioactivity levels were always below what they expected, to their great relief. While the measurement results could not completely eliminate doubt and fear, they helped to alleviate them. They did not make the people forget the accident at the nuclear power plant, but they did help them to start looking to the future again, helping them distinguish between good and bad products in terms of radiation, independently of black and white instructions from the authorities, such as: “Below this level, you can, above it, you cannot.” Of those taking measurements, some reached the stage where they might say: What's the use in worrying about consuming a product above the recommended limit, if it's only two or three times a year?

Among others, measurements of radioactivity allowed the elderly to enjoy themselves, selecting the wild vegetables in the mountains - their beloved sansai - the least contaminated. Measurement encourages discussion, comparisons, the creation of new relationships, and a human-centered approach with positive-thinking, and restores the freedom to make choices about how to protect oneself on a daily basis.

​​In a country where agriculture is elevated to the level of art, where unmatched care is given to growing, selecting, packaging, transporting, and selling fruits and vegetables, being a farmer in what may be the most highly regarded region for the quality of its agricultural products is an ongoing commitment and an age-old source of pride.

​​​​​​BITTER HARVESTS

Hisao Tsuboi (60 years old at the time of the accident) is a farmer in Miyakoji, a part of the city of Tamura designated as an evacuation zone. He recalls this commitment with a touch of nostalgia: “At the time, I was growing rice on a plot with an area of about four hectares. I was also growing vegetables, and I was working part-time for a local livestock farmer. I was always careful to use the smallest possible amount of chemicals for my vegetables. I shipped my vegetables to Tokyo and the region of Kanto. I was in regular contact with some thirty customers... That’s how I made my living.”

For agricultural and livestock farmers in Fukushima like Mr. Tsuboi, who dedicated their lives to perfecting their craft, the radioactive contamination that crept into every corner of their rice fields and orchards and contaminated their livestock after the nuclear power plant accident was more than just a hard hit to their business; it was a sacrilege, the unbearable vision of their ancestral lands suddenly sullied, tainted, impure. The embargo on agricultural products from the prefecture of Fukushima further added to the profound sense of shame leading many farmers to abandon their farms. Nevertheless, some decided to stay, or return, and fight it out. ​​

Hisao Tsuboi, Farmer, director of Tsuboi Noen, city of de Tamura

Even before the disaster of 2011, I always worked with the goal of providing my customers - mostly living in the Tokyo region - with products they could eat with total peace of mind. Today what drives me is the desire to once again offer products they can trust.

SLOWLY BUT SURELY

Muneo Kanno (60 at the time of the accident) was among those who decided to stay and fight it out. He also experienced the trauma of the early days after the accident. He had to abandon his rice paddies and vegetable crops, slaughter entire herds of contaminated livestock... An apocalyptic scenario. “Iitate, my village, is located between 30 and 50 km from the nuclear power plant, and the winds often blow that way. It was declared a mandatory evacuation zone one month after the accident, so I was forced to leave. Just after the accident, dose rates of 44 microsieverts/hour were recorded. We were told not to leave home, but if we had to, to avoid contact with the soil. March is the period of the year when we start most agricultural activities,” he recalls.

Losing the product of years of work and having to start over is a lot. After hesitating for a short time, Mr. Kanno decided to start farming again, starting nearly from scratch. Taking the bull by the horns, and with support from the Resurrection of Fukushima organization, he began by decontaminating his land, which had to be done before starting any other project. As he explained: “To revive this area, large-scale decontamination was crucial. That’s why I started by decontaminating the edges of my home last year. This year I am decontaminating my land, and I expect to spend two years on that, including decontamination of essential connections, like the road to my farm.”

Muneo Kanno, farmer, director of the organization Resurrection of Fukushima, Iitate

What’s important to me is that the residents have criteria for making decisions. That's how we can come together and avoid never-ending discussions. We need to have an idea of what is happening. For me, that's the service that needs to be provided to residents.

In addition to decontamination, the farmers in Fukushima conducted, with the assistance of scientists such as Keisuke Nemoto and Masaru Mizoguchi, both professors at the University of Tokyo, new experiments aiming to significantly reduce the transfer of cesium to rice. After months, their dogged efforts began to bear fruit. The radiological quality of the rice and vegetables grown in a remediated environment improved significantly, reaching values well below the limit of 100 becquerels per kilo established by the government.​

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WHEN CONSUMERS COME TOGETHER

Worried about the risks associated with consumption of contaminated products, most consumers throughout Japan simply eliminated all products from Fukushima from their diet. Some of them, however, went to the trouble of obtaining the information necessary to make an informed decision, without prejudice.

Shima Yamamoto was one of them. Age 36 at the time of the accident and mother of three children, she lives in Yokohama. Desiring to find answers to questions she had on food, she created a small study group on radioactivity in which she acquired basic information on the types of radiation, radioelements, radioactive decay, the notion of exposure, contamination, effects on health, etc. Slowly but surely, with the help of scientists, she developed the ability to distinguish between that which is safe and that which isn't in the different aspects of everyday life, starting with food. She challenged the preconceptions of her husband and family, for example by cooking mushrooms, assuring them that everything she is giving them to eat is above the recommended radiological standards, while being top quality in terms of taste! With Tazuko Arai, another consumer in Tokyo, Shima Yamamoto, was contacted by Twitter to participate in the 3rd meeting of the Fukushima Dialogue Initiative, dedicated in July 2012 to the issue of contaminated food. Impressed by the efforts of the farmers, both took action in their respective regions to advocate in favor of the improvements made month after month by the producers in Fukushima with the quality of their products. ​

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CONNECTING PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS

At their own initiative, these determined producers and consumers fought to restore the reputation of the quality of food products, safe once again, and the image of the “Made in Fukushima” label.

Striving to systematically measure each sack of rice and each vegetable does not amount to much until the consumer regains trust in the “Made in Fukushima” label. A long, hard, and daily struggle led with the support of precious allies, starting with the JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperative) of Shin-Fukushima and the JA of Date Mirai, two local JA branches, and the Japan agricultural cooperative group. Motivated by a spirit of mutual help, the JA brings together cooperatives present in each region of Japan, providing its members with different services: insurance, advice, credit, marketing, purchasing, and social assistance.

Another powerful ally was the Coop, which connected producers and consumers. Sunkichi Nonaka, head of the Fukushima Coop, explained the significance of this consumer association in the distribution world. After the accident, to help the “Made in Fukushima” label, the association never ceased to innovate in two ways: first, by making measuring devices available to consumers, explaining to them how to use them and how to interpret the results, periodically putting out information bulletins showing the decrease in the contamination levels registered, promoting products from Fukushima outside of the prefecture thanks to its national network of points of sale. The Fukushima Coop proved to be a strong ally, both for the producers and the consumers, while helping to restore the image of food products from Fukushima through transparent and credible information.

Each sack of rice is systematically tested before shipment to demonstrate the lack of contamination of the rice produced in the Fukushima prefecture. This policy aims to gradually restore consumer confidence in the “Made in Fukushima” label.

​Parents throughout the world share one priority: for their children to grow up in a safe and sound environment. For those living in a contaminated zone, this concern became a true nightmare, each little decision taken with fear of making the wrong choice.

If I let me son walk to school, am I making him take a risk? And my daughter, if I let her eat fruit from the garden? Am I making them take a risk without realizing it? How do I protect their physical and mental development? How do I make sure they grow up healthy?

These decisions taken in an environment of constant uncertainty often became points of friction within the family, between parents and children, between parents and grandparents, since there were divergent opinions on everything: food, school, games, etc.

Without clear indications regarding the risks associated with living in the contaminated zones, the parents ended up developing a feeling of guilt, leading to depression.

Recalling this situation, the first day of the 9th meeting of the Fukushima Dialogue Initiative focused on parents’ questions about the future of their children and their trouble finding a good place for the family to live. Here again, the dilemma of whether to stay or go was front and center.

Tetsuya Ishikawa was 40 at the time of the accident and the father of two boys, then five and three years old. An engineer specialized in information systems, he lives in Date with his family. He remembers the first months after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant very clearly: his stress, his anxiety, the never-ending internal conflict leaving him torn between a desire to leave with his family and the need to continue working to support them.

Mr. Ishikawa very quickly understood the interest of measuring radioactivity to help him make the right choices, but the equipment needed was not readily available at first: “Take measurements? OK! But at the time, there was no way to get your hands on the required equipment... I had to wait until May to be able to buy it. And it wasn’t until then that I knew the actual dose rates in and around our house.” Two endless months of uncertainty... ​​

Tetsuya Ishikawa, member of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the city of Date

I had never had any conflicts with my neighbors, but it’s not always easy when it comes to points of view on radioactivity. We don't want to say that things are rather like this and probably not like that. I think we don't like to point out the possible differences in our thinking.

THE FLIPSIDE OF PROTECTION

Things are not always easy for children, especially when they have to be confined to the home to protect them from ionizing radiation. Not only are they most often silent witnesses of the concerns, worries, and inner conflict of their parents and other members of the family, children must follow the instructions of their parents and professors, who, with the best of intentions, had a tendency to increase prohibitions and constraints, in particular when it came to outdoor activities.

This situation was a disruption of children's social lives, as they struggled to maintain relationships with their classmates but could no longer freely play outside. It affected their autonomy as well as their personal development, resulting in a clear decrease in physical activity. This trend, already present before the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, led to a growing number of overweight and obese children. Banning playing outdoors further accelerated the trend, threatening their physical fitness.

Healthcare professionals participating in the 9th meeting of the Fukushima Dialogue Initiative also underlined the importance of creating a system to monitor children's health, taking into account all aspects, not just radiation. Another undesirable effect of the children's confinement to the home was them appearing to be unhealthy, which also contributed to the discrimination against those living in Fukushima. “I don't want my child to be ashamed of having grown up in Fukushima,” declared one mother.

TEACHING RADIATION PROTECTION IN SCHOOLS

If development of a practical radiation protection culture can help the parents live their lives, wouldn’t the same be true for children? For parents and teachers, this means being able to pass on knowledge and know-how in areas new even to them... Not an easy task! It must not be forgotten that there was no official educational curriculum on this and there was a need for more practical material reflecting real-life situations.

The participants of the 9th meeting of the Fukushima Dialogue Initiative emphasized the need for educational tools based on a practical and participatory approach suitable for each age group. They also recognized that children had their own way of seeing and understanding things and needed somewhere to express their feelings and talk about their experiences.

​​​​Regardless of where we live, nothing is likely to connect us to each other and our past and our future like culture, and few things showcase people's spirit better than festivals. Not convinced? Watch men and women working tirelessly to restore historical districts or rebuild cultural spaces such as museums or theaters destroyed by man or nature.

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FROM ROOTS TO DREAMS

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, which led to the cancelation of cultural events, starting with traditional festivals, broke down the social fabric by breaking the ties between members of the community and between generations.

For instance, the cancelation of most local festivals in 2011 disrupted the transmission of an age-old legacy, the feeling of belonging to a community, the very identity of the community. For those who had already lost so many familiar aspects of their lives, this break with the past was real tragedy, as emphasized by Ms. Amari, participant in the 10th meeting of the Fukushima Dialogue Initiative, held on December 6 and 7, 2014, in Date, with the theme “The value of tradition and culture in Fukushima.” “After the accident,” she explained, “we were so preoccupied with our safety and security problems that we simply weren't capable of talking about the future. Today we are! Of course, we are still facing a number of issues, but if we come together, we will manage to live. It’s wonderful to see how things are changing, now that people are participating in festivals again.”

Nearly four years after the accident, most local festivals have resumed, helping to reconnect people and generations, allowing them to draw inspiration from their heritage as they look to the future. “People enjoy festivals. That's why so many participate in them. Festivals are the essence of culture,” says Natsumi Katahira, a student at Fukushima High School. This sentiment was echoed by Kanna Shishido, a student at the same high school, who stresses: “The art of dance must be passed on from generation to generation because it creates a real bond between people.”

Breathing fresh life into an ancient tradition, the resumption of the Soma Nomaoi festival, in July 2012, was an important milestone in the cultural life of the prefecture of Fukushima. That year, 11 horses from the no-go zone participated in the races, parades, and competitions over the three days of the event. ​

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RESTORING A SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY

While festivals are proof of the vital role of culture in connecting people, local products such as sansai (wild mountain vegetables), the treasured culinary delight of residents in the countryside, also contribute to special moments shared with family and neighbors. This was another source of enjoyment stolen from residents by the disaster of March 2011, seeing their familiar forests transformed into hostile places marred by radioactive contamination. The introduction of measurement of food products marked a major turning point, allowing residents to collect and enjoy these wild vegetables once again.

Skilled saxophonist Makoto Oomori, director of information of the TV-U Fukushima TV channel, discusses the therapeutic power of music: “At the end of 2011, I thought there was no longer a real problem of exposure to radioactivity in my city of Fukushima, but I felt very stressed, not about exposure, but from the anxiety displayed by most people. Thanks to music, I found a way to overcome it. I found joy and a reason for living.”

This was a feeling widely shared by the many participants in the 10th meeting of the Fukushima Dialogue Initiative, which underscored the unifying power of tradition and culture, their ability to connect the current generation to its past and future, to be a source of comfort when times are tough, and to help people rebuild their lives. Some of the participants had experienced exile and recalled how sad they felt to have to live far from their culture, their temples, the graves of their ancestors. During an exchange of views on the subject of economic consequences of the accident, one of the participants explained: “There are many things more important than money, starting with tradition and culture. Culture is not only a representation of our past; it’s also our present and future,” calling on older members of the community to transmit traditions to the young generation. “A new culture was born after the accident,” said another participant, indicating there was something new emerging in the prefecture. ​

Breathing fresh life into an ancient tradition, the resumption of the Soma Nomaoi festival, in July 2012, was an important milestone in the cultural life of the prefecture of Fukushima. That year, 11 horses from the no-go zone participated in the races, parades, and competitions over the three days of the event.​