Back in March, when the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, we spoke to Kana Igarashi. Kana is a Japanese student at Santa Monica College in California, and her family lives in Fukushima, about 80 km from the damaged nuclear plant. At the time we told her we’d look forward to talking to her again in happier circumstances.
A month later, I wish the circumstances were happier than they are, but the worst certainly seems to be over, so we caught up with Kana over email to see how she’s been doing.
First of all, how is your family doing? Are they still in Fukushima Prefecture?
My family is doing okay, thank you. They are still in Fukushima prefecture trying to have a normal life while people in the ocean side are still having difficulties with their livings.
When we last talked, about a week after the earthquake, I don’t think anyone could have imagined this would drag on as long as it has. Are things getting better for the residents of Fukushima Prefecture?
Many people were evacuated to other prefectures. More people who passed away around the nuclear plan were revealed. Aids from other prefectures were arrived. I think the situation has changed a lot in a way that people have to face the reality after this unbelievable disaster.
I cannot really say that things are better for them comparing to before considering the fact that they have to start everything from nothing and that those who were evacuated to other prefectures have been discriminated by other citizens just because they think that they will get the radiation from them. But I am believing in that everything will be okay.