A child's sadness about Fukushima Daichi nuclear disaster

こおりやまでは、げんぱつがあってかなしいです。
"It’s sad for me that there are nuclear plants near Koriyama."

Naoya is 8 and lives in Koriyama 34 miles (55km) west of the Fukushima accident site. He chose his materials very carefully and tested them to make sure the marks expressed his experience. He drew clouds, the sea, and Fukushima Daichi.

His situation
The levels of radiation in Koriyama are so high that most parents and schools are not allowing children to play outside at all, even though soil has been removed from many school grounds. They wear long sleeves and face masks when outside, and avoid the rain. They try to be careful about food and water. Koriyama is a city of 340,000 people.

The road to my dream - Fukushima child evacuee

Sato is 9. She evacuated with her mother and sister from Minamisoma, 25km (16m) north of Fukushima Daichi, without waiting for official instructions. Most of Minamisoma was later declared an official evacuation zone. 1,500 people from there are dead or missing as a result of the tsunami and earthquake.

Her writing on the picture:
My Dream (top leftt),
The road to my dream (by pink bird)
Shall we go with confidence? (Sato on a sheep)
Courage (yellow writing under the heart)
Hope (the flower in the middle)
Smile (pink writing, bottom　right bottom)

Click for writing by Sato, her sister Ami, and their mother in English and Japanese.

Dark clouds of worry above the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors

こおりやまでは、げんぱつがあってかなしいです。
"It’s sad for me that there are nuclear plants near Koriyama."

Naoya is 8 and lives in Koriyama, Fukushima. 

His situation
The levels of radiation in Koriyama are so high that most parents and schools are not allowing children to play outside at all, even though soil has been removed from many school grounds. They wear long sleeves and face masks when outside, and avoid the rain. They try to be careful about food and water. Koriyama is a city of 340,000 people 60km west of Fukushima Daiichi.

Fukushima Daichi monsters

 福島第一モンスター
ハルカは福島県郡山市在住の12歳の女の子。　彼女の絵からは、彼女がただ外で遊びたいことが見て取れる。　しかし福島第一原子力発電所のモンスターが彼女の思いを脅かしている。

彼女の置かれた状況
郡山市で検出された放射線レベルは非常に高く、学校のグラウンドの土を除去したとはいえ、ほとんどの親や学校は子供を外で遊ばせていない。子供達は外出時に長袖にマスク着用し、雨を避けている。そして食べ物や飲料水にも注意を払っている。郡山市は人口34万人、福島第一原発から60km西に位置している。

Haruka is 12 and lives in Koriyama, Fukushima. Her drawing shows her wishing she could just play, but she is menaced by monsters in the shape of the Fukushima Daichi nuclear plant.

Her situation
The levels of radiation in Koriyama are so high that most parents and schools are not allowing children to play outside at all, even though soil has been removed from many school grounds. They wear long sleeves and face masks when outside, and avoid the rain. They try to be careful about food and water. Koriyama is a city of 340,000 people 60km west of Fukushima Daiichi.

Fukushima Daiichi sadness

福島第一の悲しみ

エリカは郡山に住む17歳。　海岸に未使用の浮き輪が浮かんでいる。下部に描かれた四棟の建物は最も損傷の激しかった福島第一原発の1号機から4号機である。

彼女の置かれた状況
郡山市で検出された放射線レベルは非常に高く、学校のグラウンドの土を除去したとはいえ、ほとんどの親や学校は子供を外で遊ばせていない。子供達は外出時に長袖にマスク着用し、雨を避けている。そして食べ物や飲料水にも注意を払っている。郡山市は人口34万人、福島第一原発から60km西に位置している。

Erika is 17 and lives in Koriyama. In her picture a rubber ring floats unused at the seaside. The four buildings at the bottom are Fukushima reactors 1-4, which are the most damaged.

Her situation
The levels of radiation in Koriyama are so high that most parents and schools are not allowing children to play outside at all, even though soil has been removed from many school grounds. They wear long sleeves and face masks when outside, and avoid the rain. They try to be careful about food and water. Koriyama is a city of 340,000 people 60km west of Fukushima Daiichi.

A prayer for my children 我が子らの為の祈り

3歳のハルトは三人兄弟の末っ子。家は福島第一原発から33km南の福島県いわき市にある。彼はお気に入りの色でオレンジと線を描いた（絵右側）。ハルトくんの母親は祈りを込めて自身の両手と、息子を包むように広がる宇宙を描いてくれた。
ハルトの母親は、3月11日の地震と原発事故の体験を以下のように綴ってくれた。

私は、福島県のいわき市に住んでいます。
３月１１日のあの日から生活は一変しました。
あの日、私は家にいました。とても大きな揺れを感じ
３歳の息子を抱え、急いで下校途中の娘のところへ走りました。
家を出てからも揺れはおさまるばかりか激しく揺れ続けました。
それは、歩けないほどでした。
５歳の息子を幼稚園に迎えにいき、家に戻ると雪が激しく降って
きました。不気味な天気でした。
いつでも逃げられるよう、荷造りをして家族みんなで同じ部屋で
余震におびえながら数日をすごしました。
ラジオやテレビからは、震災の被害が次々と映し出され、原発からは
信じられない状況が目に飛び込んできました。
私たちは混乱しました。ガソリンスタンドは長蛇の列。お店はどこも
開いていない。まちの広報車は、窓はもちろん換気扇、エアコンも
つけないよう、極力外に出ないように、路地野菜は食べないようにと
広報して走っています。水もでないのに、外にも出れない。ありえな
い状況でした。
放射能の事は全く知識がありませんでしたので、何が正しいのかも
判断できませんでした。
それから私は、いろいろな講演会に行ったり、インターネットで調べ
たりしましたが、どれがベストなのか、いまだにわかりません。
でもわかったこともあります。それは、原発はもういらないという
こと。原発の問題だけではなく、農薬、大気汚染などの問題。　　
私たちは生活を見直さなければならないということ。
いろいろな人に支えられて生きているということ。
私たちに、日本中、世界中のかたが温かい手を差し伸べてくれていま
す。本当に感謝でいっぱいです。
こどもの未来を思うとどれが正しいのかわかりませんが、私にでき
ることは地球がかがやきを失わないよう、祈り、自分に出来ることを
続けて行きたいと思います。

Haruto is 3 and lives in Iwaki, Fukushima, 33km south of Fukushima Daichi with his brother  and sister. He chose his colour and drew the orange and the lines on the right. His mother drew her hands in prayer and the universe around them.


His mother wrote the following about the family's experiences of March 11ths earthquake and nuclear disaster:

"I live in Iwaki, Fukushima. Our life has completely changed since March 11th.  I was at home that day. When I felt the massive tremour, I hurriedly took my 3 years old son in my arms and dashed to meet my daughter who was on her way back home from her school. The shaking became even bigger after I left home, so that I could hardly walk properly. Then I went to fetch my 5 year old son from kindergarten. When I returned home, snow started to fall heavily. It was disquieting weather. I packed essential things so that we could run if something happened. We gathered together as a family in one room and slept together for several days, scared by the continuous after shocks.

Dreadful scenes kept being reported by the media every day and the nuclear power plant was in an unbelievable state. We were panicked. People made long lines for petrol and no stores were working. A car with a loudspeaker was going around telling residents not to open windows, not to use ventilation fans or air-conditioners, and also not to go out or eat garden-grown vegetables. We were not able to go out, even though the water supply had stopped. It was an impossible situation. Since we didn’t have accurate information about radiation, we had no idea how to make the right decision about what to do.

Since the 3.11 disasters, I have been attending many different lectures to try to learn about the nuclear issue and radiation, and also through the internet, but I still don’t know what is correct. What I learned from the disaster is that we do not want nuclear power plants any more. We do not want pesticides or air pollution too. I learned that we all have to reconsider our life style. I learned that we are supported by many others. Many people in Japan and people from all over the world have given us help and warmth. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

I still don’t know what the best decision is when I consider my children’s future. However, I would like to keep praying for the earth to stay clean and do what I can towards that."

I wish that nuclear power will disappear 未来は原発がなくなるように

のぶひろくん10歳、福島県柳津在住。
「未来は原発がなくなるように」と願いを書いてくれた。

Nobuhiro is 10 and is from Yanaizu, Fukushima prefecture. His writing says "I wish that nuclear power will disappear in the future."

彼の置かれた状況
2011年3月11日に起こった原発事故に加え、この絵が描かれた数週間後には、郡山市から出た640トンもの高濃度汚染水が、自治体の希望に反して彼の住む村にこっそり遺棄されたとテレビが報じた。そして7月29日、豪雨により村は洪水に襲われた。

As well as living with the nuclear accident of 11th March 2011, a few weeks after this drawing was made it was reported on TV that 640 tons of highly radioactive sewage waste from Koriyama had been secretly dumped near his  village against the wishes of the council.Then on 29th July, a major flood  hit the valley.

Anger at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster

He is 9 and lives in Kaneyama-machi, Fukushima prefecture. As well as living with the nuclear accident ongoing since 11.3.11, two weeks after making this drawing his house was flooded by the Tadami river, damaging everything on the first floor.

Fukushima Daichi clouds 福島第一原発の雲

K君は7歳。福島第一原発と煙突を描いてくれた。
K-kun is 7 years old and lives in Fukushima prefecture. He painted Fukushima Daichi and its towers.

As well as living with the consequences of the nuclear disaster, earthquake and tsunami, the valley he lives in was severely flooded on 29th July 2011.

Fukushima Daiichi Robot 福島第一原発ロボ

Y君は9歳。
Y-kun is 9 years old and lives in Okuaizu, Fukushima.

His situation
As well as living with the consequences of the nuclear disaster, earthquake and tsunami of 11.3.2011, the valley he lives in was severely flooded. The railway bridge below his house was destroyed, and there was a landslide very close to his house.

Do we need elctricity to have fun? 電気はなくても楽しく生きられる

 

福島第一原発が爆発した時、19歳のKさんはインドにいたが、日本の多くの被災者や家族と同じ状況を分かち合いたいと思い帰国した。インドでKさんは人々がとても質素な生活をしているのを目の当たりにし、電力なんてほんの少しあれば人は楽しく生きられるのだと悟った。肖像画の色に選んだのはインドの神聖なお祭りに使われる色。肖像画の背景には自筆の言葉を添えてくれた。

K-san, 19, was in India when Fukushima Daichi exploded. He wanted to get back to Japan to share the situation with his family and the Japanese people. Looking around at how simply many people have to live in India, it made him realise that in fact we need very little electricity to have fun. He wrote this on the image and chose colours to represent the Indian Holi festival

Grandfathers are important

 

東京赤坂プリンスに一時避難中の被災者対象に行われたイベントのバザーで、母親が買い物をしている間、2歳のお孫さんRちゃんを子守りするHさん。一家は事故を起こした福島第一原発の南にある「いわき市」から避難している。Rちゃんがソワソワして居心地悪そうにしていると、支援者達がみな彼女の周りに集まってあやしたりなだめたりした。二人の肖像を描くにあたり、Hさんが肖像画に使う色を選び、そしてお孫さんの健康を願って直筆のメッセージを書いてくれた。


About this drawing
H-san held his 2 year-old grandaughter R-chan while her mother looked round for things they need at the support event for evacuees staying at the redundant Akasaka Prince Hotel in Tokyo. They had left Iwaki, south of the Fukushima Daichi nuclear accident. R-chan was fidgety and everyone gathered around to entertain her. Her grandfather chose the colour and wrote the message hoping for good health for her future.

Hold on tight ギュッと抱きしめる

お母さんに抱かれた一歳のAちゃん、その手には縫いぐるみが抱かれている。お母さんはAちゃんはピンクが好きだと言ってピンク色の画材を選び、Aちゃんの健康を願って一筆添えてくれた。肖像を描く間、Aちゃんはとても大人しくいい子にしていた。
Aちゃんの一家は高い放射線量が記録された郡山市から避難している。

About the drawing
A-chan is 1 year old, and held her toy, just as her mother was holding her. Her mother wrote the message wishing her good health, and said she liked pink. A-chan sat very calmly and well for her portrait. They had evacuated from Koriyama City to escape the higher radiation. This is A-chan's brother

I like circles ボクは丸が好き

K君は三歳の男の子。お母さんが選んでくれたクレヨンで、お気に入りの円を肖像画の周りにたくさん描いてくれた。K君へのメッセージはお母さんの直筆。K君のお母さんは、福島第一原発から50キロ離れた郡山市に住んでいたが、上昇する放射線レベルを心配し、子供達を連れて自主的に避難してきた。彼女らは現在避難所として滞在している営業停止中のホテルをもうすぐ退去しなくてはならない。K君の妹さんはこちら


About the drawing
K-kun is 3 years old. He likes drawing circles so he decorated his portrait with them, and his mum helped to choose colours and wrote the message. His mother voluntarily evacuated him from Koriyama City, about 50km west of Fukushima Daichi because of the raised radiation levels. Soon they will have to leave the disused hotel in Tokyo they are staying at. Click for K-kun's sister.

Pink flowers ピンクの花

Kちゃんは4歳の女の子でピンク色が大好き。彼女は自分で上手に花の絵を描いた。彼女のお母さんは、Kちゃんの健康を祈りながらメッセージを添えてくれた。彼女達は福島第一原発から33㎞南のいわき市から避難してきた。いわき市沿岸部は津波による被害も出ている場所である。現在は家族で赤坂プリンスホテルに宿泊しているが、まもなくそこも出なくてはならない。


About the drawing
K-chan, aged 4, wanted pink - what a surprise! And she drew the flowers onto her portrait. Her mother wrote the message which says "You are mum and dad's treasure." She had been evacuated from Iwaki-shi, about 33km south of the Fukushima Daichi nuclear plant. The coastal areas of Iwaki also suffered tsunami damage. Her family were staying at the Akasaka Prince Hotel, but would soon have to leave.

In memory of a much loved baby 愛された子供を追悼して

 

福島から避難した母親の言葉

福島県楢葉町はありふれた田舎の町です。
人よりも木々が多い。
秋には山々が紅葉し、冬には葉を落とす。
春の淡い若葉、夏の潮風。
東北の海の色は少し暗い。
子どもの数は少なくて、元気なじぃじゃばぁばがいっぱいいます。


そこを地震が襲いました。
地震は津波をよんで、津波は原子力発電所を襲い、
大きな災厄をもたらしました。
自然を予測することは難しい。
千年に一度の出来事だったのです。
誰かを責めるより、今は頑張ってくれている人を応援したい。
そして、いつかありふれた故郷に戻りたい。
私達の悲しみが未来の糧となりますように。
この出来事が子ども達の未来を、よりよくしていくきっかけに
なればいいと思っています。

*******************

 この母親が住んでいたのは福島第一原発から数キロの地点。現在は東京の赤坂プリンスホテルに避難している。彼女は私に地震前に肺の病気で亡くなった赤ちゃんの絵を描いてくれないかと依頼してきた。赤ちゃんは生涯をずっと病院で過ごしたので、医療器具が装着された写真しか存在しないのだと言う。彼女は携帯電話に記録された小さな画面を見せてくれた。私は彼女に「この赤ちゃんを抱っこしている写真はありますか？」と聞いて、そのような一枚を描きましょうと提案した。彼女は、温かく愛情を感じるからと暖色を選び、その色を使って私は母子の肖像を描いた。亡くなった直後に撮られた写真の赤ちゃんは目をつぶっていたが、絵の中では目を開き、その小さな手でお母さんと手を握っている。

Written by the mother above who evacuated from Fukushima:

Naraha-cho in Fukushima prefecture is just an ordinary local town.
There are more trees than people.
In autumn the mountains change colour, in winter the leaves fall.
In spring young delicately coloured leaves come, in summer the sea breeze.
The colour of Tohoku’s ocean is a little dark.
There are only a few children, though there are many energetic elderly men and women.

This is where the earthquake attacked.
The earthquake caused the tsunami, and the tsunami attacked the nuclear power plant.
The result was an overwhelming disaster.
It is so very difficult to predict nature.
It was a once in a thousand years incident.
I don’t want to accuse anyone, but I do want to support people who are giving everything for us
Someday I want to go back to that ordinary local place.
I hope that our sadness will nourish the future.
I hope what has happened will be become a chance to start making a better future for our children.

About the drawing
This mother was compulsorily evacuated from a few kilometres away from Fukushima Daichi and was staying in emergency acommodation at the Akusaka Prince Hotel in Tokyo. She asked if I could draw a nice picture of her small baby who had died of lung complications before the disaster. They only had pictures with medical equipment. She showed me a small mobile phone picture. I asked if she had any nice pictures of her holding the baby, and suggested that we make one. She chose colours that she felt had a warm loving feeling. I opened the baby's eyes and drew them holding hands.