Life After a Nuclear Meltdown

A vending machine was abandoned in a field near Minamisoma, in Fukushima prefecture, Sept. 21, 2013. In 2011 a total of 160,000 people were ordered to leave their homes after a massive earthquake and tsunami wrecked the Fukushima nuclear plant, resulting in nuclear meltdowns and…
A vending machine was abandoned in a field near Minamisoma, in Fukushima prefecture, Sept. 21, 2013. In 2011 a total of 160,000 people were ordered to leave their homes after a massive earthquake and tsunami wrecked the Fukushima nuclear plant, resulting in nuclear meltdowns and hydrogen explosions.
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Today, evacuees may return home for brief visits. Here, a woman walked under a sign reading ‘Nuclear Power — The Energy for a Better Future,’ at the entrance of the empty Futaba town, inside the exclusion zone in Fukushima prefecture, Sept. 22, 2013.
Today, evacuees may return home for brief visits. Here, a woman walked under a sign reading ‘Nuclear Power — The Energy for a Better Future,’ at the entrance of the empty Futaba town, inside the exclusion zone in Fukushima prefecture, Sept. 22, 2013.
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Despite government orders, Naoto Matsumura, shown on Sept. 17, never left the town of Tomioka, near Fukushima. He lives inside the nuclear exclusion zone with his 50 cows, two cats, a dog, a horse and two ostriches.
Despite government orders, Naoto Matsumura, shown on Sept. 17, never left the town of Tomioka, near Fukushima. He lives inside the nuclear exclusion zone with his 50 cows, two cats, a dog, a horse and two ostriches.
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A security guard blocked the entrance to a road into the exclusion zone, Sept. 13, 2013. Former residents of evacuated towns can visit their homes once a month with special permission.
A security guard blocked the entrance to a road into the exclusion zone, Sept. 13, 2013. Former residents of evacuated towns can visit their homes once a month with special permission.
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A worker from Tokyo Electric Power Co., the plant operator, cut vegetation that grew wild in the evacuated town of Namie, Sept. 13, 2013.
A worker from Tokyo Electric Power Co., the plant operator, cut vegetation that grew wild in the evacuated town of Namie, Sept. 13, 2013.
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Keigo Sakamoto held Atom, one of 21 dogs he keeps at his home in the exclusion zone near Naraha, Sept. 17, 2013. Mr. Sakamoto refused to leave his home. He named this dog ‘Atom’ because it was born just before the 2011 disaster. He receives donations and support from outside…
Keigo Sakamoto held Atom, one of 21 dogs he keeps at his home in the exclusion zone near Naraha, Sept. 17, 2013. Mr. Sakamoto refused to leave his home. He named this dog ‘Atom’ because it was born just before the 2011 disaster. He receives donations and support from outside Fukushima, and has adopted many animals that were abandoned by previous owners as they left the exclusion zone.
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Mieko Okubo posed with a portrait of her father-in-law, Fumio Okubo, during a trip to the evacuated town of Iitate, in Fukushima prefecture, to feed the dog and clean the house. Mr. Fumio, a 102-year-old farmer, hanged himself after authorities ordered evacuation. Ms. Okubo said he…
Mieko Okubo posed with a portrait of her father-in-law, Fumio Okubo, during a trip to the evacuated town of Iitate, in Fukushima prefecture, to feed the dog and clean the house. Mr. Fumio, a 102-year-old farmer, hanged himself after authorities ordered evacuation. Ms. Okubo said he did it because he just could not stand to end his life somewhere else.
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A doctor conducted a thyroid examination on four-year-old Maria Sakamoto in Iwaki town, in Fukushima prefecture, Sept. 18, 2013. The World Health Organization said children in Fukushima may have a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer after the nuclear disaster.
A doctor conducted a thyroid examination on four-year-old Maria Sakamoto in Iwaki town, in Fukushima prefecture, Sept. 18, 2013. The World Health Organization said children in Fukushima may have a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer after the nuclear disaster.
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Street lamps illuminated the street in the evacuated town of Namie, in Fukushima prefecture, Sept. 23, 2013.
Street lamps illuminated the street in the evacuated town of Namie, in Fukushima prefecture, Sept. 23, 2013.
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A visitor from Hokkaido took pictures in the evacuated town of Namie, in Fukushima prefecture, Sept. 15, 2013.
A visitor from Hokkaido took pictures in the evacuated town of Namie, in Fukushima prefecture, Sept. 15, 2013.
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A small monument to victims was set up in front of an abandoned house in Namie, Sept. 22, 2013.
A small monument to victims was set up in front of an abandoned house in Namie, Sept. 22, 2013.
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Firefighters from Kyoto paid respect to victims as they visited Namie, Sept. 15, 2013.
Firefighters from Kyoto paid respect to victims as they visited Namie, Sept. 15, 2013.
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Messages of support were written on the blackboard of an abandoned school in Namie, Sept. 22, 2013.
Messages of support were written on the blackboard of an abandoned school in Namie, Sept. 22, 2013.
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Kasumi Saino, originally from the town of Tomioka, walked her dog, May, between prefabricated houses at the center for evacuees where she lives in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, Sept. 19, 2013.
Kasumi Saino, originally from the town of Tomioka, walked her dog, May, between prefabricated houses at the center for evacuees where she lives in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, Sept. 19, 2013.
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An elderly woman leaned against the damaged grave of a relative as she visited a cemetery in Namie, Sept. 23, 2013.
An elderly woman leaned against the damaged grave of a relative as she visited a cemetery in Namie, Sept. 23, 2013.
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A man fished on a municipal beach that is closed to the public near Iwaki town, south of the nuclear power plant, Sept. 15, 2013. Almost all the beaches in Fukushima prefectures remain closed since the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami.
A man fished on a municipal beach that is closed to the public near Iwaki town, south of the nuclear power plant, Sept. 15, 2013. Almost all the beaches in Fukushima prefectures remain closed since the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami.
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