Evie, our Japan Regional Specialist, had the opportunity to visit Fukushima earlier this year. Below, she talks about the eye-opening activities and experiences she had whilst there, as well as what she thinks it can offer any school tour group visiting Japan.
In March this year, I was invited by the Futuba-gun Area Tourism Research Association (F-ATRAs) to visit four different towns in the Fukushima prefecture, to learn more about the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster. I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the recovery of affected areas, and the revitalization efforts of the communities who have come to together to rebuild their beloved hometowns. My hope is to bring more international students to Fukushima to take part in this local project, and to highlight how remarkable community spirit and human resilience is in times of adversity.
During my time in the area, I was lucky enough to take the Fukushima Disaster Tour, to learn more about the area and its recent history from local people. The activities on the tour were incredibly impactful, and ranged from visiting memorial sites and museums, to meeting survivors and storytellers.
Our first stop was a visit to the remains of Ukedo Elementary School. One of six schools in Namie Town at the time, it was only 300 meters from the sea and five kilometres from the nuclear power plant. Miraculously, there were no casualties as a result of the earthquake, and the memorial site acts as a symbol of the perseverance of life. Ukedo Elementary School highlights the necessity of understanding the importance of disaster prevention; to this day, the clocks in the school remain set at the time the tsunami hit, at 15:37 pm.
Next, we headed to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum, to learn more about all three elements of the disaster. The museum itself showcased a wide range of images, video footage and artefacts from before, during, and after the disaster. It even dived into how new technology helped the recovery process of the surrounding land. Additionally, there’s also a chance for students to listen to an inspirational personal account from a local storyteller. It was incredibly informative and gave a well-rounded view of the entire disaster, teaching us how to prepare for adversity in the future.
After a delicious local lunch of fried noodles, we went on a walking tour of the previously abandoned Futaba Town, which partially reopened in 2020 and features a very unique Art District. While walking through the town, you can see buildings that have remained unchanged since the day of the disaster, which were abandoned shortly after over radiation concerns. The local guide talked about the history of the evacuated town and how the local community has come together to build new projects, helping businesses revitalise. The contrast of the art installations and remains of the town were profoundly moving and thought-provoking.
On our last day, representatives of the four towns on the coast of Fukushima gathered together, and we took part in the FONT (Futaba, Okuma, Namie, and Tomioka town) workshop. FONT were greatly affected by the disaster, and residents were forced to evacuate due to air radiation. We listened to truly inspiring personal accounts from each of the 4 members as they shared stories of how the towns have been rebuilt, emphasizing the importance of community spirit. For students, there is a chance to engage in activities, including problem-solving for disaster-related scenarios, interacting with the town residents on solutions and ideas, and finding ways for communities to come together in the face of adversity.
In June, we took a school group on our first trip to Fukushima, and were guided by the amazing team at F-ATRAs. The school had and incredibly memorable experience, and were even featured on NHK News – the biggest broadcasting channel in Japan! At The Learning Adventure, we aim to provide educational travel experiences that help young learners explore different cultures firsthand, developing a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Having lived in Japan for nearly four years, my time in Fukushima was one of the most profound experiences that I’ve had while living here. I’m firmly convinced that many educational tours will benefit from a visit here, getting to know a truly resilient, inspiring community who have demonstrated unfathomable strength.
Our Geography in Japan trip includes time spent exploring Fukushima. If you’d like to learn more, explore the itinerary or contact us via email for more information.
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