Great East Japan Earthquake: Odaka District, Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture Promotion to Create an Environment for People to Return, by Supporting the People and Culture to Become the Anchor of Reconstruction

• Among the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, Fukushima Prefecture which had suffered damage caused by the nuclear accident, is forced a longer evacuation compared to other affected areas. In such a case of long-term evacuation, it will be important to design step-by-step returning processes; such as community development at evacuation sites of evacuated residents, relationship development with affected areas, and development of administrative functions, along reconstruction and town development in the affected areas.

• Odaka District of Minamisoma City has been designated as evacuation order area. Odaka District is working on developing an environment to return, aimed at the lift of evacuation order in Spring 2016. In the case of Odaka, it is remarkable that not only the city administration but also the local residents are making voluntary efforts to create an environment to return.