New housing continues to be built in the Ogawara district of Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, where the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is located. In April last year, the evacuation order for the district was lifted so that it could become a base for reconstruction, although the order is still in place for a wide area of the town, due to the crisis at the power plant owned by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc.
Residents are moving into public housing for disaster victims as well as rental housing that aims to attract newcomers to rebuild the town.
The house where Hikaru Murai, 70, lived before the disaster is located in a difficult-to-return zone in the town. Although he cannot live in his old house now, he moved into public housing for disaster victims in July last year, saying: "Okuma is my hometown. As long as my life lasts, [I hope to live] in this town."
On March 26, the torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics will pass north of the residential area, which is lined with brand-new houses.
Little by little, the town of Okuma is recovering. Residents hope the torch relay will help bring back the town's liveliness.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
