Three years have passed since the 2011 Geat East Japan earthquake and tsunami, and the resulting nuclear accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. From immediately after the earthquake and nuclear accident, Fukushima Prefecture has been suffering many hardships, but efforts have been proceeding steadily towards its recovery.

Local governments throughout Fukushima Prefecture have been carrying out decontamination work in order to remove radioactive cesium. Besides, radioactive cesium has a half-life (cesium 134: 2 years, cesium 137: 30 years), and levels have dropped quite significantly compared to the time of the accident. At present, radiation levels in residential areas are very low. There is no radioactive cesium in the atmosphere, therefore it is not possible to take in radioactivity by breathing.

Fukushima produces a wealth of delicious foodstuffs. However, we cannot ignore the fact that there are still those who worry that some of these are still contaminated with radioactivity. Immediately after the accident, interim standards for radioactive iodine and cesium were put in place, and in Fukushima Prefecture in particular, foodstuffs that exceeded these interim standards were subject to restrictions on transport and consumption. Now, standards that are more strict than these interim standards have been implemented. Foodstuffs that exceed these still face restrictions on transport and consumption, meaning consumers can rest assured that any foodstuffs on the market are safe to consume. In fact, up until now 170,000 people in Fukushima Prefecture have undergone internal screening for radiation, and almost none of them have been found to have internal exposure from radioactive cesium.

Fukushima has been taking positive steps towards recovery from this unprecedented disaster. I hope that you will feel assured that you can enjoy Fukushima as it is now, with its fine views of outstanding natural beauty, as well as its delicious foodstuffs.