Association “3a in Koriyama” By AYANO KUBOTA

2013/06/17

Association “3a in Koriyama” By AYANO KUBOTA

April 11, 2013

The voice of Ms. Ayano Kubota is regularly heard on the radio. She is herself a TV reporter as well. She is from Fukushima and since 2011, every Monday she works as an anchorperson for the Koriyama local radio program “Asa Koko”. She plays a proactive role in the coverage of issues related to Fukushima and is actively involved in the project “Voice of Fukushima”.

〈Voice of Fukushima, N.3〉

“Public authorities are insensible to our petitions and signatures.” (Tokiko Noguchi, Representative of “3a（Anshin, Anzen and Action）in Koriyama”)

“3a in Koriyama” is an association founded　on the initiative of mothers raising children in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture. Since the nuclear disaster, for security (Anshin) and safety (Anzen) reasons, mothers have been measuring foodstuffs’ radiation levels on their own.

At first, they just used to measure local foods such as products sold in　supermarkets, locally grown vegetables or fishes caught in the area. But these days, they host sale events for vegetables from Western Japan and discussion meetings, as well.

Ms. Tokiko Noguchi, the representative of “3a in Koriyama”Association said:

“The topics discussed at our meetings are mainly about the school environment, namely the abolition of the ‘3-hour outdoor activity restriction’ as of April 2012, the utilization of swimming pools in view of the upcoming summer, and school meals.”

After the nuclear disaster,KoriyamaCitybegan to use locally grown rice earlier than any other municipalities inFukushimaPrefecture. Also, Ms. Masako Mori (the Minister of State in Charge of measures for declining birthrate, consumers, food-safety and gender equality) said that “subsidies would be offered to those who are going to use local agricultural products.” Since it is a matter concerning the health of our children, we cannot compromise.

Ms. Noguchi herself is a mother whose daughter is a second grade Junior High School student. “Mask Faced Children” who used to be seen acrossFukushimaPrefecturejust after the nuclear accident are now invisible. Even Ms. Noguchi’s daughter said “I’m not going to wear a mask anymore”. So, what parents are to be most careful about in order to protect children from radiation is “food”.

“Public authorities have been indifferent to petitions and signatures collected every time we hold a discussion meeting. But we are not going to give up,” Ms. Noguchi said.

I first met Ms. Noguchi in January 2012. At the time she told me: “next April my daughter is starting Junior High School, so I think it gives us the opportunity to leave the Prefecture. But she wants to go to Junior High School with her friends from Elementary School. I am wondering myself about what to do.”

About a year has passed since then. Ms. Noguchi who eventually decided to remain in Koriyama with her family said: “this time I am thinking about leaving the Prefecture with all my family before my daughter enters Senior High School.” Then a cloud passed over Ms. Noguchi’s face and she went on saying:

“But, you know, my daughter says she really likes her present school. I am at a loss! Last year I asked her to attend the summer vacation excursion for first graders so that she could relax, but she soon turned it down. “I’m not joining anymore”, she declared. Because she belonged to a school club, she said “If I miss the training because of the excursion, I might lose my chances to be selected as a major player.” So in the future, it would be appreciated that an accommodation where the whole class or the whole club can go for relaxation is provided. It would help children easily make up their minds about joining or not. We expect that public authorities put forward such proposals.

Did public authorities get the message?

A lot of mothers participate in “3a in Koriyama” activities “to protect children from radiation” and “to keep the nuclear accident disaster vivid in people’s minds.”

“It would be far better for us not to spend our time with such activities, though. Also, lately there is a general tendency ‘to pretend that the nuclear accident did not happen” rather than to focus on the “Recovery of Fukushima” as it has been the motto just after the accident. I think, however, that we should never forget about the disaster …” Perplexed, “this is the third year after the nuclear accident!” gasped Ms. Noguchi.

[caption id="attachment_9460" align="alignleft" width="599"] “3a in Koriyama” members at work[/caption]