Reconstruction and land development in coastal areas of the Tohoku region are nearly complete, 13 years after the destruction caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, but populations have not recovered.
Despite a massive outlay in decontamination and infrastructure funds, only 1 percent of residents have returned to special reconstruction zones in Fukushima Prefecture.
FUTABA, Fukushima Prefecture Some residents were allowed on Aug. 30 to return to live here for the first time since the evacuation order following the 2011 nuclear disaster was partially lifted, but few are expected to take up the offer.
Evacuation orders will be lifted in June for the first time in the residential zone considered the most heavily contaminated from 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima Prefecture.
The Supreme Court settled the issue of compensation for around 3,700 people forced to evacuate from their homes due to the triple meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in 2011 by ordering Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the stricken facility, to pay about 1.4 billion yen ($12.2 million) in damages.