I've recently found out where I'll be working in Japan: Iwaki city, in the infamous Fukushima Prefecture. Iwaki is around 30 miles from the nuclear plant affected by last year's tsunami.
From the information I can find on Iwaki's site, the radiation levels aren't elevated higher than normal background radiation. But what think you? If you're a current resident of Japan, what are the kinds of things have you been hearing about the area? Would you live there or visit there yourself? If you're outside of Japan, could you see yourself moving to Fukushima prefecture?
I've made up my mind to accept, but I'll be doing more research in the meantime. If you know of any credible sources, send them my way!
You're returning to Japan? :)
ReplyDeleteIt's not current, but it is/was one of the best blogs about Fukushima:
http://commons.trincoll.edu/jbaylis3/
Cecilia recently visited Tohoku and wrote several posts about it: http://ponkanchan.blogspot.jp/2012/05/exclusion-zone.html
Some other Tohoku bloggers, although they all live further away from the exclusion zone:
http://susiesomewhere.blogspot.jp/
http://www.amandainjapan.com/
http://sixmats.blogspot.jp/
I'm quite sure they'd be happy to answer questions if you contacted them via their blogs.
I would live in Iwaki, but I'm from Africa, so I don't scare easily. :D If I find more info that might be useful, I'll write again!
And ... WELCOME BACK! ^^
Yes, I am! *(@▽@)* I'm super excited!
DeleteThank you for the blogs. The Fukushima JETS are in touch on facebook, and I'm getting a lot of great info from them, too. I'll be reading these for some lifestyle info, too!
I saw the Nature article, and there was something else recently published in the Guardian. I'm basically sending whatever I can to my parents, since they're a bit worried about it.
I really appreciate your opinion, too. I figure if I go there and do end up being scared (and I don't scare very easily either, unless the scary thing is a cockroach^^) I can always leave.
Congratulations! When do you leave and for how long will you be going?
ReplyDeleteI'm going in August! I'll be there for about a year, or longer if I decide to re-contract (and they want me to re-contract). Oh, you know how you mentioned that journal a month service? I got the 4 a month version. My first one comes in June. Thanks for the heads-up about it!
DeleteOh nice! The one where you get one different one every month? Do you know which one's you'll be getting? I started reading Tin House at work and it's really great. It seems like everyone I know is off to Japan these days.
DeleteI'm not sure! I think it's a surprise every time? Ha ha, I'll have to see if they have the schedule posted somewhere.
DeleteIt does seem like it... You should come too!
This has just been published:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nature.com/news/fukushima-s-doses-tallied-1.10686
Hi there !! I'm an ex-JET from the UK & have been in Iwaki for nearly 12 years. If it helps with your peace of mind, I never felt the need to leave Iwaki (even immediately after the quake) and radiation levels have never been worrying (looking at official readings & those of various students' mothers with devices) despite the fact that we have two young boys (5 & 3) Radiation is lower than the international urban average.
ReplyDeleteIwaki is a fantastic spot. Lots to see & do (music, arts, festivals, good restaurants) and it's really easy to nip down to Tokyo for the weekend too !!
If you have any questions contact me on Facebook (glad you found the FUJET page. Did you see the Iwaki-specific Iwakians page too ??)
It's a great place to be :)
John Loynes
Hello John,
Deletethanks for taking the time to comment! I have seen the Iwakians page.
>>Iwaki is a fantastic spot. Lots to see & do (music, arts, festivals, good restaurants) and it's really easy to nip down to Tokyo for the weekend too !!
I'm really excited for my placement. The Fukushima prefecture part did throw me for a moment, but after some research I felt much more relieved. Opinions are mixed, but from the information I found and speaking with people who actually live in the area, it seems like I was really lucky to have been placed there!
I'll should probably just write this from FB, since you probably won't be reading this comment 笑