THE ASAHI SHIMBUN, May 2, 2023

Despite a massive outlay in decontamination and infrastructure funds, only 1 percent of residents have returned to special reconstruction zones in Fukushima Prefecture.

Evacuation orders for those special zones were gradually lifted from last year and the Nagadoro district of Iitate became the final area where the order was lifted on May 1.

A total of about 320 billion yen ($2.3 billion) was spent on decontamination and social infrastructure in the special zones.

However, so far only 158 residents of those special zones in six municipalities have returned to their communities, or 1.2 percent of the total number of registered residents in those areas.

Those zones were designated in areas of municipalities that until then were classified as difficult-to-return zones because of the high levels of radiation that lingered after the 2011 triple meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

Government officials…