Tour of Fukushima's Nuclear Accident Affected Areas: Understanding the Support Needed by Disaster Victims
On June 6, 2026, Pal System Cooperative Federation visited areas affected by the nuclear accident in Fukushima Prefecture. They listened to messages from residents and explanations about the interim storage facilities in Okuma and Futaba towns, deepening their understanding of the current situation and future challenges, and considered how to support disaster victims.
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- 📰 Published: June 10, 2026 at 19:10
- 🔍 Collected: June 10, 2026 at 10:21
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Pal System Cooperative Federation (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Okubo, Chairperson: Atsuyuki Shibusawa) conducted a tour of areas affected by the nuclear accident in Fukushima Prefecture on Saturday, June 6, 2026, with 24 group executives and staff. They listened to messages from people living in Okuma Town and explanations about the interim storage facilities located in Okuma and Futaba Towns, and considered future support for disaster victims.
The tour was attended by members of the "Peace and Community Activities Committee," composed of executives and staff of the Pal System Group. They visited facilities such as the "CREVA Okuma" Industrial Exchange Facility in front of Okuma Town, and the "Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Bikini, Fukushima, Message Museum" at Hokyo-ji Temple in Naraha Town, which conveys the nuclear accident, and heard about the current situation 15 years after the accident and future challenges.
At CREVA Okuma, local residents and facility operators reported on the interim storage facility, which stores soil and waste generated by decontamination after the nuclear accident. The interim storage facility is located around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant of Tokyo Electric Power Company and covers an area roughly equivalent to that of Shibuya Ward in Tokyo.
Residents: "We are happy just by you visiting."
Hidetoshi Matsunaga, a landowner who returned to Okuma Town and provided land for the interim storage facility, introduced the current situation, saying, "Due to evacuation caused by the accident, people who lived next door to each other have been scattered. Few people have returned, and many are still unreachable." He also confided that providing his land is "still something I haven't come to terms with emotionally."
Aki Sato, who moved to Okuma Town, her partner's family home, after getting married, confessed, "One of the motivations for my move was anger at the accident." Currently, she says, "I want to preserve the town's life that is still being woven," and while running a farm, she also supports local community activities and is involved in preserving traditional performing arts such as the Kumagawa Chigo Shishimai (deer dance) and Shinobue (bamboo flute) playing.
Regarding the support they need, both said in unison, "We are happy just by you visiting." Matsunaga expressed his hope, "For those who cannot return for various reasons, I hope that when people visit Okuma, they can convey that they had a 'fun time.'" During the explanation, Matsunaga also performed a Shinobue piece at the prompt of Sato.
▲ Ms. Sato (left), who moved to the town, and Mr. Matsunaga (right) performing the flute.
Interim Storage Facility Consolidating Decontamination Soil
Regarding the interim storage facility, they received an explanation from JESCO (Interim Storage and Environmental Safety Organization) at the "Interim Storage Project Information Center" located within the same building. The facility collects soil and waste generated from decontamination work in Fukushima Prefecture, reduces their volume through sorting and incineration, and then stores them on-site.
Transport from temporary storage sites scattered throughout the prefecture has been largely completed, and management is carried out while measuring radioactivity levels in the air and groundwater.
The amount of decontamination soil and other materials received is equivalent to 11 Tokyo Domes. After processing, 75% with relatively low radiation levels are planned to be utilized as "reconstruction soil," and the remaining 25% are planned to be disposed of outside the prefecture.
▲ Large screen virtual theater
"Don't forget the reality that it steals lives and livelihoods."
At the "Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Bikini, Fukushima, Message Museum," Director Sugie Tanji provided an explanation about the background of the nuclear power plant's installation and the current situation after the accident. The number of residents in areas where the evacuation order has been lifted is less than 20% of the pre-accident level across the five towns surrounding the plant, and the number of elementary and junior high school students is less than 10%.
Tanji appealed, "Considering the social and economic impact of accident countermeasures, both nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons are clearly high-cost. Please do not forget the reality that they are stealing people's lives and livelihoods." Participants toured the exhibits within the museum and saw the "Flame of Non-Nuclear" (formerly "Flame of the Atomic Bomb"), which was donated by Ueno Toshogu Shrine.
▲ Participants receiving an explanation about the "Flame of Non-Nuclear."
Pal System Cooperative Federation
Location: 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Rakus East Shinjuku, Chairperson: Atsuyuki Shibusawa
Total business revenue of 13 member cooperatives and unified business system users: 260.42 billion yen / Total number of members: 1.762 million (as of the end of March 2025)
Member Cooperatives: Pal System Tokyo, Pal System Kanagawa, Pal System Chiba, Pal System Saitama, Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi, Pal System Yamanashi Nagano, Pal System Gunma, Pal System Fukushima, Pal System Shizuoka, Pal System Niigata Tokimeki, Pal System Kyosai Ren, Saitama Prefecture Workers' Cooperative, Ai Coop Miyagi
HP: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/
The tour was attended by members of the "Peace and Community Activities Committee," composed of executives and staff of the Pal System Group. They visited facilities such as the "CREVA Okuma" Industrial Exchange Facility in front of Okuma Town, and the "Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Bikini, Fukushima, Message Museum" at Hokyo-ji Temple in Naraha Town, which conveys the nuclear accident, and heard about the current situation 15 years after the accident and future challenges.
At CREVA Okuma, local residents and facility operators reported on the interim storage facility, which stores soil and waste generated by decontamination after the nuclear accident. The interim storage facility is located around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant of Tokyo Electric Power Company and covers an area roughly equivalent to that of Shibuya Ward in Tokyo.
Residents: "We are happy just by you visiting."
Hidetoshi Matsunaga, a landowner who returned to Okuma Town and provided land for the interim storage facility, introduced the current situation, saying, "Due to evacuation caused by the accident, people who lived next door to each other have been scattered. Few people have returned, and many are still unreachable." He also confided that providing his land is "still something I haven't come to terms with emotionally."
Aki Sato, who moved to Okuma Town, her partner's family home, after getting married, confessed, "One of the motivations for my move was anger at the accident." Currently, she says, "I want to preserve the town's life that is still being woven," and while running a farm, she also supports local community activities and is involved in preserving traditional performing arts such as the Kumagawa Chigo Shishimai (deer dance) and Shinobue (bamboo flute) playing.
Regarding the support they need, both said in unison, "We are happy just by you visiting." Matsunaga expressed his hope, "For those who cannot return for various reasons, I hope that when people visit Okuma, they can convey that they had a 'fun time.'" During the explanation, Matsunaga also performed a Shinobue piece at the prompt of Sato.
▲ Ms. Sato (left), who moved to the town, and Mr. Matsunaga (right) performing the flute.
Interim Storage Facility Consolidating Decontamination Soil
Regarding the interim storage facility, they received an explanation from JESCO (Interim Storage and Environmental Safety Organization) at the "Interim Storage Project Information Center" located within the same building. The facility collects soil and waste generated from decontamination work in Fukushima Prefecture, reduces their volume through sorting and incineration, and then stores them on-site.
Transport from temporary storage sites scattered throughout the prefecture has been largely completed, and management is carried out while measuring radioactivity levels in the air and groundwater.
The amount of decontamination soil and other materials received is equivalent to 11 Tokyo Domes. After processing, 75% with relatively low radiation levels are planned to be utilized as "reconstruction soil," and the remaining 25% are planned to be disposed of outside the prefecture.
▲ Large screen virtual theater
"Don't forget the reality that it steals lives and livelihoods."
At the "Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Bikini, Fukushima, Message Museum," Director Sugie Tanji provided an explanation about the background of the nuclear power plant's installation and the current situation after the accident. The number of residents in areas where the evacuation order has been lifted is less than 20% of the pre-accident level across the five towns surrounding the plant, and the number of elementary and junior high school students is less than 10%.
Tanji appealed, "Considering the social and economic impact of accident countermeasures, both nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons are clearly high-cost. Please do not forget the reality that they are stealing people's lives and livelihoods." Participants toured the exhibits within the museum and saw the "Flame of Non-Nuclear" (formerly "Flame of the Atomic Bomb"), which was donated by Ueno Toshogu Shrine.
▲ Participants receiving an explanation about the "Flame of Non-Nuclear."
Pal System Cooperative Federation
Location: 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Rakus East Shinjuku, Chairperson: Atsuyuki Shibusawa
Total business revenue of 13 member cooperatives and unified business system users: 260.42 billion yen / Total number of members: 1.762 million (as of the end of March 2025)
Member Cooperatives: Pal System Tokyo, Pal System Kanagawa, Pal System Chiba, Pal System Saitama, Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi, Pal System Yamanashi Nagano, Pal System Gunma, Pal System Fukushima, Pal System Shizuoka, Pal System Niigata Tokimeki, Pal System Kyosai Ren, Saitama Prefecture Workers' Cooperative, Ai Coop Miyagi
HP: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/
FAQ
Why did Pal System Cooperative Federation visit Fukushima?
To visit areas affected by the nuclear accident, listen to residents' voices, and consider future support. The aim is to understand the current situation of the disaster areas and connect it to concrete support.
What was particularly impressive during the visit?
While residents expressed happiness simply by being visited, they also shared the reality of life disruption due to evacuation and the difficulty of returning. This suggested that support can take various forms.
What was explained about the interim storage facility?
Explanations were given on the status of consolidation, processing, and storage of decontamination soil, as well as plans to utilize some of the processed soil as "reconstruction soil." Management of radioactive materials was also mentioned.
What message was conveyed at the Message Museum?
A strong appeal was made not to forget the high social and economic costs of the nuclear accident and the reality that it steals people's lives and livelihoods.
How will Pal System proceed with disaster support in the future?
Based on the insights gained from this visit, it is expected that concrete support measures will be considered. Collaboration with members and continued involvement are anticipated.