Fukushima: The Ghost Town Behind The Gates

Recovering Fukushima Reporting by Kat Lonsdorf and visuals by Claire Harbage Claire Harbage/NPR The two towns that host the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan once gained a lot from the promises of nuclear power. But after one of the worst nuclear disasters in history, it's clear how much they've lost. We visit both as they struggle to reopen and survive, after nearly a decade without any residents at all. (Get started with our visual immersive page here, or listen to part one and part two. Parts 3-6 of the series can be found below.) Here Comes The Sun Claire Harbage/NPR Following the nuclear disaster, investment in renewable energy soared, especially solar. Many of the people immediately affected by the disaster took up the cause, like a housewife who runs her own solar farm and a farmer who installed solar panels on the land he could no longer cultivate. But the government is also pushing fossil fuels, causing climate watchers to worry. (Listen here or read the story)   A Battle Of Man Vs. Monkey Claire Harbage/NPR Towns and villages sat empty for years after the 2011 nuclear disaster. Nature reclaimed the space. But then, people started coming back. In one mountain village, monkeys now rule, and an old man has taken it upon himself to battle them...with fireworks. (Listen here or read the story)   Grandparents Go Radiation Testing Claire Harbage/NPR Citizen science flourished in the decade after the 2011 nuclear disaster. It has given people back a sense of control, after the Japanese government left many feeling woefully uninformed. And now, it has many people feeling parallels to the coronavirus pandemic. (Listen here or read the story)   Karaoke In A Ghost Town Claire Harbage/NPR If you sing ABBA in an empty town, can anyone hear it? A karaoke bar in the former nuclear exclusion zone in Fukushima has been testing that out, providing a place for nuclear decontamination and construction workers to destress after long days rebuilding the town. (Listen here or read the story) This series was made possible by The John Alexander Project. You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy