Returning to Fukushima, a journey through the nuclear exclusion zone

Summary

The video script recounts an urban explorer's return to Fukushima, years after the 2011 disaster. It documents the evolving exclusion zone, the cleanup efforts, and the emotional impact of the aftermath. The explorer revisits once-restricted areas now open or being repopulated, reflecting on the resilience and rebuilding efforts of the Japanese people. From abandoned buildings to demolished structures, the script captures the haunting yet hopeful transformation of the area.

Takeaways

• 🌪️ The Fukushima disaster, triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami, led to three meltdowns at the Daiichi nuclear power station, causing widespread evacuations due to radioactive contamination.
• 📸 Urban explorer Bob revisits the exclusion zone of Fukushima after the pandemic, documenting the ongoing changes and efforts to decontaminate and rebuild the area.
• 🏗️ The exclusion zone in Fukushima is in a state of constant evolution, with active demolitions, renovations, and repopulation of villages, unlike the static nature of Chernobyl's exclusion zone.
• 🚦 Route 6, once the only open road in the restricted area, has seen a decrease in radiation levels and a transformation from a construction site to a more accessible area with lifted restrictions.
• 🏚️ Many buildings along Route 6 have been demolished or emptied, serving as a stark reminder of the disaster's impact, while others remain untouched due to lack of homeowner consent.
• 🏠 The residents of the affected areas have the choice to either return to their original homes or relocate elsewhere in Japan.
• 🏫 Schools and other public buildings that were once the site of the disaster have been demolished or preserved as memorials, reflecting the community's resilience and the passage of time.
• 🛒 A once popular grocery store, a symbol of the disaster's aftermath, has been cleaned out, indicating a significant shift in the area's recovery process.
• 🚗 Abandoned vehicles from the time of the disaster remain, some fenced off out of respect for the owners or due to inability to contact them, showcasing a unique aspect of Japanese culture and respect for property.
• 🌳 Nature has begun to reclaim the area, with some houses and structures becoming overgrown, illustrating the passage of time and the healing power of nature.
• 🌆 As the exclusion zone changes, new developments like hotels and a Pokemon park signal a return to normalcy and the rebirth of communities that were once abandoned.

Q & A

What was the cause of the disaster in Fukushima?

A 9.1 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that resulted in three meltdowns at the Daiichi nuclear power station.

How did the disaster affect the local population?

Thousands of people were evacuated due to radioactive contamination.

What was the emotional impact of visiting the exclusion zone for the narrator?

It was one of the most emotionally impactful experiences to date for the narrator.

How does the exclusion zone of Fukushima differ from Chernobyl's?

The exclusion zone of Fukushima is constantly evolving, with efforts being made to remove radiation and renovate or demolish structures.

What changes have occurred in the exclusion zone since the narrator's last visit?

Many buildings have been demolished, radiation levels have slightly decreased, and some villages have been repopulated.

What was the condition of Route 6 during the narrator's first visit?

During the first visit, Route 6 was the only open road in the restricted area, with guards monitoring entry and exit, and stopping or parking was strictly prohibited.

What is the current state of Route 6?

Route 6 now looks a lot emptier, with most side streets no longer barricaded as some restrictions have been lifted.

What was the Pachinko Hall's fate?

The Pachinko Hall, which was a massive abandoned building along Route 6, has been demolished.

How has the residential area in Tomioka changed?

Restrictions have been lifted in the residential area of Tomioka, with many buildings demolished and some still standing due to the house owners' permissions.

What is the current situation in Namie, the biggest affected village?

Namie has seen restrictions lifted, and the area is being cleaned out, with some buildings still standing but most having been demolished.

What is the significance of the clock stopped at 3:37 PM in an iconic building near the shore?

The clock stopped at the time when a 15-meter high tsunami reached the building, marking a significant moment of the disaster.

What is the current state of the Ukedo Elementary School?

Ukedo Elementary School is now the first memorial that opened in the prefecture in 2021, preserved in a damaged state.

How is the area around the nuclear power station now?

The area has seen new roads and a dyke constructed, and many buildings have been swept away by the tsunami.

What is the narrator's impression of the changes in the exclusion zone?

The narrator is amazed by the determination of the Japanese to rebuild and make the area livable again, noting that in a few years, almost every trace of the disaster will be gone.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Fukushima's Transformation: A Decade After the Disaster

This paragraph details the ongoing changes in the Fukushima exclusion zone over a decade following the 2011 disaster. It recounts the author's experiences visiting the area, noting the efforts to remove radiation and the demolition or renovation of structures. The repopulation of villages and the emotional impact of the disaster are highlighted, along with the author's return to document the evolving landscape. The paragraph also discusses the current state of Route 6, which has seen significant changes since the author's last visit, including the decrease in radiation levels and the transformation of the area from a restricted zone to a construction site.

05:01

🏚 Abandoned and Reclaimed: The Shifting Landscape of Fukushima

This paragraph explores the dichotomy of abandonment and reclamation in Fukushima. It describes the author's observations of buildings that have been demolished and those that remain, reflecting on the reasons behind the varying fates of these structures. The paragraph also discusses the author's experiences visiting residential areas, noting the changes in accessibility and the emotional resonance of the locations. The narrative touches on the respect for property owners' decisions regarding demolition and the natural overtaking of abandoned vehicles and buildings. The author's reflections on the eerie beauty and the stark reality of the disaster's aftermath are woven throughout the summary.

10:06

🛒 Ghost Towns and Time Capsules: Exploring Fukushima's Past

The paragraph delves into the author's exploration of abandoned commercial spaces in Fukushima, such as a Pachinko Hall and a grocery store, which serve as time capsules of the disaster's immediate aftermath. It recounts the author's surprise at the cleaned-out state of these spaces, the lingering smells of rot, and the respect for property displayed in leaving untouched cars and other items. The narrative also touches on the author's visit to Namie, the largest affected village, and the changes observed there, including the opening of new roads and the construction of a Pokemon park, symbolizing a return to normalcy.

15:12

🏞 The Rebirth of Futaba: From Desolation to Revival

This paragraph focuses on the town of Futaba, once a difficult return zone, and its transformation over time. The author recounts a previous clandestine visit and contrasts it with the current state of the area, where restrictions have been lifted, and demolition efforts are underway. The paragraph describes the eerie emptiness of the streets, the remnants of the past, and the signs of rebirth, such as the running train and the potential future museum. The narrative captures the tension between the haunting past and the determined efforts to rebuild and make the area livable again.

20:13

🌙 Nighttime Explorations: The Haunting Beauty of Abandoned Fukushima

The final paragraph of the script sets the stage for the author's nighttime explorations in the Fukushima exclusion zone. It describes the strategy of dressing in black to blend into the night and the thrill of exploring potential buildings of interest. The paragraph captures the eerie beauty of the deserted streets at night and the careful approach needed to avoid drawing attention. It concludes with the anticipation of what the author and his team might discover, inviting viewers to follow their journey through subscription and engagement.

Keywords

💡Fukushima Disaster

The Fukushima Disaster refers to the nuclear accident that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan in 2011, triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami. It is a central theme of the video, illustrating the long-term effects and recovery efforts. The script mentions 'three meltdowns at the Daiichi, nuclear power station' and the 'aftermath of the disaster in restricted areas', highlighting the scale of the disaster and its ongoing impact.

💡Exclusion Zone

An exclusion zone is an area cordoned off due to hazardous conditions, such as high radiation levels following a nuclear incident. In the context of the video, the exclusion zone of Fukushima is 'constantly evolving' with efforts to remove radiation and repopulate villages, showing the dynamic nature of the recovery process.

💡Radioactive Contamination

Radioactive contamination is the presence of radioactive substances in the environment, which can pose health risks. The script refers to 'radioactive contamination' as the reason for the evacuation of thousands of people, emphasizing the severity of the disaster's immediate effects.

💡Urban Exploration

Urban Exploration, or 'urbex', is the exploration of man-made structures, usually abandoned or off-limits. The video's narrator identifies as an 'Urban Explorer', and the script documents his experiences exploring the 'most amazing abandoned places worldwide', including the abandoned structures in Fukushima.

💡Repopulation

Repopulation refers to the process of people returning to live in an area after it has been deemed safe following a disaster. The script mentions that 'all villages have been repopulated', indicating progress in recovery and the return of normalcy to the affected areas.

💡Pachinko Hall

A Pachinko Hall is a large venue where the game Pachinko is played, a popular form of mechanical entertainment in Japan. The script describes the demolition of a 'massive Pachinko Hall', symbolizing the destruction of community spaces and the cultural impact of the disaster.

💡Restricted Area

A restricted area is a location where access is limited, often due to safety or security concerns. The video discusses the changes in the 'restricted area' over time, with some areas becoming more accessible and others remaining off-limits, reflecting the ongoing management of the disaster's aftermath.

💡Cleanup of Contamination

Cleanup of contamination involves the removal of hazardous substances from an environment. The script notes that 'the cleanup of contamination has led to a slight decrease in radiation levels', showing the efforts to mitigate the disaster's effects and make the area safer.

💡Tsunami

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption. The video script describes the 'tsunami that resulted in three meltdowns', highlighting the natural disaster's role in the Fukushima incident and its destructive power.

💡Memorial

A memorial is a structure or site created to remember and honor those who have died or to commemorate a significant event. The script mentions the 'Ukedo Elementary School' as the 'first memorial that opened in the prefecture', preserving the damaged state of the building as a testament to the disaster.

💡Rebuild

To rebuild means to construct something again after it has been damaged or destroyed. The video emphasizes the 'determination of the Japanese to rebuild and make this area livable again', showcasing the resilience and recovery efforts in the face of the disaster.

Highlights

Over a decade has passed since the Fukushima disaster, with the area undergoing constant evolution and efforts to remove radiation.

Three meltdowns occurred at the Daiichi nuclear power station due to a 9.1 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Thousands were evacuated due to radioactive contamination, leading to an exclusion zone.

The narrator documents the aftermath of the disaster in both restricted and re-opened areas.

Fukushima's exclusion zone is in contrast to Chernobyl, with ongoing changes including renovation and demolition of structures.

Villages have been repopulated, showing resilience and recovery post-disaster.

Bob, an urban explorer, revisits Fukushima after the pandemic to showcase changes and the last remaining abandoned structures.

Significant changes have occurred in three years, including the demolition of Sega Hall and changes in radiation levels.

Route 6, once the only open road, has transformed from a restricted area into a construction site with lifted restrictions.

The cleanup has led to a decrease in radiation levels, although some structures remain untouched.

Many buildings, including a Pachinko Hall, have been demolished, reflecting the scale of the disaster's impact.

Tomioka street, once a restricted area, is now open with many buildings demolished, indicating recovery progress.

Some houses remain due to the requirement of homeowner permission for demolition, showing respect for property rights.

The narrator explores residential buildings and observes the drastic changes in the landscape, including the disappearance of a farm.

Schools and other buildings that were once abandoned are now demolished, serving as a stark reminder of the disaster.

Namie, the most affected village, has seen restrictions lifted and an increase in returning residents, including the construction of a Pokemon park.

The narrator reflects on the eerie and post-apocalyptic scenes experienced during exploration, contrasting with the fear and terror of the disaster.

Despite the disaster, valuable items were left untouched in abandoned stores, reflecting a high level of respect and restraint.

The narrator explores various buildings, noting the preservation of the disaster's aftermath as a testament to the event's impact.

Futaba, once a difficult return zone, is now open with many buildings demolished, showing the progress of recovery efforts.

The determination of the Japanese to rebuild and make the area livable again is highlighted, with most traces of the disaster expected to be gone in a few years.

The narrator and his team explore the zone at night, finding deserted streets and investigating potential interesting buildings.

Transcripts

It's been over a decade since the devastating disaster occurred in Fukushima.

A 9.1 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that resulted in three meltdowns at the Daiichi

nuclear power station.

Thousands of people were evacuated due the radioactive contamination.

In the past I have visited the exclusion zone with Frederik to document the aftermath of

the disaster in restricted areas and areas where restrictions were lifted.

It was undoubtedly one of the most emotionally impactful experiences to date.

In contrast to Chernobyl the exclusion zone of Fukushima is constantly evolving.

Efforts are being made to remove radiation and to renovate or demolish structures and

meanwhile all villages have been repopulated.

Unfortunately I was unable to return during the pandemic but when borders reopened I had

the chance to go back for a fourth time to show you the changes and explore the last

remaining abandoned structures before they're history.

Hi I'm Bob I'm Urban Explorer and with friends I explore the most amazing abandoned places worldwide.

So we're back in Fukushima.It's been three years, three long years because the pandemic

the country closed.

2019 I've been here twice and since then a lot changed.

Here was the Sega Hall, gone now and strange about Route 6 is that you can now park everywhere

it seems, we're just on it.

Oh here, 0.6 microsievert. Before it was 2.4 I believe.

Looks like almost everything has been demolished, but still there are a few leftovers.

Really crazy to be here again on the road.

We drove this how many times 30, 40 times at least?

As far as I heard in 2019 there were 5.000 workers in the exclusion zone,

demolishing buildings, cleaning radiation.

They did a pretty good job.

Route 6 looks a lot emptier now

During our first visit Road 6 was the only open road in the restricted area.

At the start and end of the road there were guards monitoring entry and exit.

Only vehicles such as cars and trucks were permitted, but stopping or parking was strictly

prohibited.

The length of this road in the restricted area was 14 kilometer, 9 miles long and it

was a surreal sight to see everything abandoned and being overtaken by nature.

During the years it changed into a construction site, most of the side streets are no longer

barricaded as some restrictions have been lifted.

Still, this area is closely monitored by police and security.

The cleanup of contamination has led to a slight decrease in radiation levels.

Though some structures along Route 6 remain unchanged, the interiors of most have been

emptied.

These buildings only remind us of the terrible disaster which costed a lot of lives

One of the first places we explored in Fukushima was this massive Pachinko Hall which you couldn't

miss when you came from Tokyo.

It was the first big abandoned building along Route 6 and one of the many that have been

demolished.

For us it was crazy to walk in the front door while everything was still left inside and

we wondered what we would find in the next days.

Let's move on to another part.

This street in Tomioka was once a border into the restricted area, but restrictions have

been recently lifted.

During our first visit we were here too, there was a fence here with cameras, a security

guy even came and then I flew my drone into this street.

A few years later, now it's open and as you probably can see a lot of buildings have been

demolished.

What a difference!

Do you remember the flashing street lights here?

As far as I heard each house owner has to give permission to demolish their house.

If there's no response the house will be left untouched.

That's why some houses are still standing while the rest of the street has been demolished.

Residents can choose to live in the same place or elsewhere in Japan.

Here we walked into the red zone once to check some residential buildings.

I remember there was a farm on the right side and then we ended up with some flats on the

left somewhere and now you can just drive in.

Oh the farm is gone completely.

there they are, probably these buildings here.

There was also a car standing.

They're also renovating this.

They're ready.

The whole area here is unrecognizable.

The only ones who drove here in the former restricted zone were workers and the police.

The big building which you can see was also my list to visit, but I never made it here

due the many cameras.

It turns out it was a ceremonial hall.

Many of the last intact buildings are being emptied like this drugstore.

With every house we pass, I wonder who lived here and what's their story.

There are also many motor vehicles left behind.

Some consumed by nature.

Here you can see how fast it goes in a few years.

Even some houses are almost completely overgrown.

One of the schools we visited...demolished.

We parked the car over here which is now a really busy parking lot.

Stepping inside a place like this felt like going back in time to the day of the disaster.

Everything was exactly as it had been left on March 11 2011, like a true time capsule.

Unlike Pripyat near Chernobyl where tour guides stage rooms and put gas masks on dolls to

make it look more interesting.

No this was the real deal.

It was a strange experience, on one hand I was thrilled to see the post-apocalyptic scenes

but on the other hand I could sense the fear and terror that people must have felt here.

Like these kids who suddenly had to flee and grow up somewhere else.

We go to Namie, the biggest affected village in the former forbidden zone.

Just before our first visit restrictions got lifted in a part of this town.

Let's check the status.

This is the famous grocery store we visited a few times on our past visits .From all the

Fukushima episodes this was by far the most popular video, probably because it's something

unique you normally only see in series like The Walking Dead.

Look what happened, everything is cleaned out.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I stepped inside.

I never saw anything like this before.

The abundance of cobwebs throughout the store indicated that nobody walked here for years

and yes you could still smell the rotting food after all those years.

So at least this place smells better now.

It's crazy, this is a car which is still standing here from the disaster.

It's just fenced it off, done.

So that means they couldn't contact the owner or the owner didn't reply.

Crazy that they have so much respect.

During our first visit they were emptying this store.

Active.

There you can see the store we went into it as well.

Seems it's in use, you can see that the lights are on.

This was one of the abandoned drugstores we explored.

Despite being abandoned for years it was remarkable to see that valuable items were still on the

shelves.

This level of respect and restraint you will only find in Japan.

We explored many other places here which we didn't capture on film but at that point I

was more focused on taking photographs.

This was the optic store where it felt like employees could return any moment from their

lunch break.

So we went in that building as well, didn't film.

I don't even know why we didn't film.

I don't know, it was pretty dark in there.

A lot of gardening items.

As previously mentioned many towns in the area have been repopulated.

On our initial visit we only encountered workers but now we see more and more families returning.

even a Pokemon park has been constructed.

One of the roads we explored a lot.

A few years later you barely recognize it.

Even a lot of traffic here now.

Here is the hotel where we couldn't get a room.

Because we were foreigners we were not allowed in any hotel in the area.

Especially after this block almost everything is gone.

This was an area with many restaurants, cafes, karaoke bars and small stores.

Many remaining buildings here were severely damaged by the earthquake.

I found some old unpublished footage in which you can see a few of them.

Because there was so much abandoned, we had to be picky what to visit, but each place

we saw was frozen in time since a disaster.

Here you can see the before and after footage of iconic buildings in this area.

And while driving around we also recognize some cars.

This is the street where we shot an episode of an abandoned DVD store and bookstore.

So in this whole area here used to be stores.

Most of them were closed, we couldn't get in.

We saw pretty cool stores.

Luckily we did one and now we're back and yeah, we wanted to see what's left of it and

as you can see everything has been demolished.

Everything is gone except that story over there.

Seems it's in use again.

Quite a change man.

In this store we found brand new PSPs, PlayStations, WIIs and many other expensive items.

Meanwhile everything has been thrown away.

Unbelievable.

Go?

Let's go yeah.

And another example of a place which bit the dust, just one of the countless stores we

explored.

We drive to the shore, close where the nuclear power station is located and most buildings

have been swept away by its tsunami.

Oh [ __ ] it's the end of the road.

oh my God.

One of the few buildings which is still standing and which we visited before.

This iconic building will be probably a museum in the future.

The clock stopped at 3.37 PM when the around 15 meter high tsunami reached the building.

154 residents in the area were killed.

This area is now a tsunami disaster risk area and people cannot live here anymore.

You also can see that they constructed a new dyke here.

New roads.

This residential area was swept away by the tsunami and when you see the debris you can

see how powerful it was.

We drive to the nearby Ukedo Elementary School which we explored before.

It's the first memorial that opened in the prefecture in 2021 that got preserved in a

damaged state.

This building had to endure an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear fallout.

Because we were on a tight schedule and it was pretty busy we decided to move on.

Next to the school was an observatory which got also demolished.

From here you had a good view on the coastline.

It must have been a really scary sight to see that tsunami coming.

Many new hotels have been built to accommodate the workers.

Now it's time to visit one of the most affected areas of the nuclear fallout.

Futaba was a difficult return zone for a long time.

In 2019 we used the unused train tracks to get into Futaba at night unseen.

In contrast to our first visit we are now completely dressed in black so we had cover

from darkness with the many cameras in the restricted zone.

Unfortunately for us they had already started to demolish buildings.

Here we had a close call where we illegally hiked into the red zone.

This was the only point where we would cross a regular road and I think twice we saw security

driving here.

We had to hide and run for our life.

Futaba's restrictions just got lifted so we can compare it with the state when we first

explored Namie.

There are still many ruined buildings, although most have been emptied in the past years.

Now it's the most deserted area of the whole former exclusion zone, but as we learned from

the other villages this won't be for long.

I made a shot of exactly this point, there was a car standing here.

It's crazy to walk here now.

This is how the street looked like a few years ago, really post-apocalyptic.

This is to catch wild boars ,we saw quite a few running of them here.

Also the train which was absent for a few years, is up running again

Measuring radioactivity, maybe it are bags with new ground, that's also a possibility.

It's the same at my home.

Okay that's good.

As the first day comes to an end we realize that much has changed in the zone.

The determination of the Japanese to rebuild and make this area livable again is nothing

short of remarkable.

In a few years almost every trace of the disaster will be gone.

We had no idea what to expect when we first arrived so we made several backup plans.

However we decided to stay and explore the last remaining bits which is like finding

a needle in a haystack since most places have been cleaned out.

Although most areas are repopulated we also spotted a few restricted zones which could

be interesting for us.

Okay, good memories.

I hope it's gonna be better this time.

oh my God.

As night falls it's time for us to begin our real investigation.

We make the most of the time we have to take a closer look at potential interesting buildings.

During the day this can be done unseen.

Due the limited number of cars on the road, primarily belonging to security and police

we have to be careful not to draw attention to ourselves.

The deserted streets take on an even more eerie appearance at night.

Whenever we come across something of interest we conceal our car and investigate if there's

a way to enter and after something worth seeing inside.

After checking a lot of places it's time to park the car in a quiet spot and get a few

hours of rest.

Curious what we'll find?

Subscribe to our channel to find out or check some older episodes we shot before in Fukushima.

Thanks for watching leave a comment and thumbs up and see you next week