The government issued him a warning to leave the exclusion zone, but Matsumura has remained there for over four years without wavering.

"The government is also attempting to have the cattle remaining in the contaminated area slaughtered," Matsumura said.

He insists that the animals are healthy and happy, thanks to him, and have no reason to be killed. "Why slaughter them if not for human consumption?" He asked Vice. "To me animals and people are equal."