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| Crying Tomoya. Photo from beneaththetangles.files.wordpress.com |
Aizu-no-san-naki is
a phrase used by the people of Aizu Region in Fukushima Prefecture from long
ago to describe the special principles and morals that exist in the region.
This phrase summarizes my feelings, thoughts and experiences in my visit in
Minamiaizu Town and Aizuwakamatsu City for the whole duration of Kizuna (Bond)
Project.
When I first arrived in
Fukushima Prefecture, I cried for its beautiful, nature-rich sceneries, its
bountiful agricultural products, its abundant tourist spots, its rich history,
tradition and culture, and its generous and kind people.
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| Fukushima Prefecture. Photo from http://www4.pref.fukushima.jp/investment/e/index.htm |
After hearing the sentiments,
feelings and experiences of the people of Fukushima on the Great East Japan
Earthquake and Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident, I cried for the second
time. I felt how they suffer from the disaster and try to recover and live the
way they have before. They suffered much because of harmful rumors pertaining
to radioactive contamination. The spread of these rumors caused the terrible
decline of prefecture's agricultural and tourism industries. The people felt
discriminated because of the rumors that they are contaminated by radioactive
substances. Despite of these things, Fukushima Prefectural Government were
doing the best thing they can have to ensure the safety of their products as
well as the health of its people and to attract tourists from other prefectures
and also from other parts of the world.
Finally, I cried for the third
time. But it is a battle cry to prove that those harmful rumors are not true
and for the whole world to know that Fukushima is back and Fukushima is safe.
