After the big earthquake in Japan in 2011, some towns in Fukushima, like Okuma and Namie, were told to leave. But now, people are back, and new buildings are going up. A researcher named Rebekah Wilson Lye is studying Japan’s culture for JFOODO, and she visited a school called Manabiya Yumenomori.
The school is special because it brings together people who used to live in Okuma and others who moved there. The school’s goal is to help each person develop their own personality. Rebekah asked a student what job they wanted, and they said they wanted to be a comic writer. Their design got put on bags and sold.
Rebekah also went to the Namie Star-Fallen Farm to meet Mr. Daiju Takahashi. He explained how they use starfish for fertilizer and protection. Rebekah asked him about being an outsider in the community, and Mr. Takahashi said the local people have been really open and welcoming. They grow unique plants like root beets, indigo dye plants, juniper berries, and agave for tequila.
After spending the day in Namie-machi and Okuma-machi, Rebekah felt a sense of progress and a new beginning in the small town. She believes Fukushima is creating a special community in Japan after facing a tragedy. Foreign viewers can easily see this unique story of rebuilding and hope.
Comments