Have you been placed in Fukushima? (or nearby areas)

[KIKKI.K]

Hello^^

So now that placement info is actually trickling in, I thought I would make a thread for those *who have actually been placed in Fukushima* or *who have been placed in areas near Fukushima and are concerned*.

First, congrats on getting placed in such an awesome area^^ we really look forward to seeing you^^

This is a place for those of you placed here, or near here to ask any questions regarding the area and possible radiation levels etc. JETs from Fukushima will try to answer your questions to the best of our knowledge, and point you to resources that we use to keep track of radiation and disaster related stuff.

THIS IS NOT A PLACE TO GO OVERBOARD WITH APOCALYPTIC NONSENSE. But it is a place to ask questions and voice concerns in a reasonable manner^^

PLEASE keep it civil, and related to FACTS.^^

[kawaiijutsu]

Hear hear!! I promise you, Fukushima is great! It was my third choice, and I'm pretty happy to be placed here. All the JETs get together for events pretty often, weather is pretty nice, easy to get to Tokyo...could go on if you get placed in Fuku (or nearby), WELCOME TO TOHOKU!

[nannernaut]

I just found out I've been placed in Iwaki city. I'm happy with this. I put Tohoku as my first choice randomly because I thought the area was beautiful, and my only worry was having to buy a car (it doesn't seem like I'll have to, so I am completely satisfied). My only concern now is what my parents will think when I tell them it's in Fukushima, and how they will react when they search online and find out it is only about 20 miles from the infamous power plant. How should I answer questions like "What about the radiation?" "What if there's another tsunami, aren't you right beside the coast?!"

And my questions are the general stuff I guess. Stuff like, How's the cost of living? Any culture specific to Fukushima I should know about? And other things I can't think of right now because I'm pretty excited.

[kawaiijutsu]

First of all, welcome nannernaut! Iwaki seems like a cool place - I know some of the others from there. If you use Facebook, we have a group called "Fukushima ALTs" that you should join! You can meet more from that area
As for answering your parents questions...I'm not rightly sure how to go about that. My mom didn't speak to me for several weeks when she found out I wanted to go still, and I'm ~50 miles away from the plant. They've now calmed down, but only once they've seen that I've been here nearly a year and I'm just fine. Air radiation is really not a huge problem - there's tons of resources to help you out with that. For tsunamis....that is a legitimate concern of theirs, I feel. I'd look up what you can on the area's tsunami disaster preparations, and show that you can come up with an evacuation plan to stay safe.
For other things, hmm, cost of living is pretty good, especially if your BOE will help pay your rent (mine does not >< but most in Fuku do pay!). Foods are pretty cheap, clothes are cheap if you know where to go, etc. Fukushima culture...we have lots of festivals, things are very humid, we love our Akabekos, skiing is pretty good here...

[sparrowtimes]

I've been placed in Shiroishi-shi, which while not in Fukushima itself, is right on the border between Miyagi and Fukushima. Apparently it's still close enough for my mother to begin trawling around for all the radiation information and complain that it's "barely" outside the evacuation zone. But that's what mothers tend to do, and I'm paying it no mind except to bring up the various data available to tell her, as stated on some radiation report for Miyagi, to "please be at ease".

So, I'm not a Fukushima ALT, but maybe I'm near enough to be an honourary member of the posse? Looking forward to being in the Tohoku area regardless!

[Bejma]

I was placed in Tome city in Miyagi, I think I am a good deal away, but I wouldn't have cared if I were closer to Fukushima at all. I left my placement requests blank for a reason and I was ready to help in any way I could! I would do anything to be a part of this program and now earthquake is gonna keep me away. Or radiation for that matter.

CONGRATS TO EVERYONE!!!!

[KIKKI.K]

I just found out I've been placed in Iwaki city. I'm happy with this. I put Tohoku as my first choice randomly because I thought the area was beautiful, and my only worry was having to buy a car (it doesn't seem like I'll have to, so I am completely satisfied). My only concern now is what my parents will think when I tell them it's in Fukushima, and how they will react when they search online and find out it is only about 20 miles from the infamous power plant. How should I answer questions like "What about the radiation?" "What if there's another tsunami, aren't you right beside the coast?!"

And my questions are the general stuff I guess. Stuff like, How's the cost of living? Any culture specific to Fukushima I should know about? And other things I can't think of right now because I'm pretty excited.

Hey^^ current Iwaki JET here^^
First, let me say that Iwaki has the Second-Lowest radiation levels of a major urban area in Fukushima, despite being the closest city to the plant (only Aizu is lower).
Iwaki's levels average around 0.19 MICRO sieverts per hour, or 1.6 MILLI sieverts per year, so you'll be well below the world wide average of 2.4 MILLI sieverts per year^^

The cost of living here is low, since you know your city, we know that you're a municipal ALT which means your rent will be subsidised by the BoE^^ I manage to save more than half my paycheque each month and still down to Tokyo a couple of times.... Oh yea, that's the best thing about Iwaki, you can get to Tokyo in 2.5 hours for super cheap on the weekends using the express trains which are way cheaper than bullet trains, or by buses which are cheaper, but take longer.... Unfortunately, it's easier to get to Tokyo than to get to other cities in Fukushima but don't let that stop you!

EEEEEEEE new Iwaki ALTs^^ Feel free to PM me anytime!!

*EDIT* you might want to make sure you have a driving license, because even though you won't need a car for your daily life, it'll come in handy sometimes^^ (especially in the winter, because Fukushima has some of the THE best snow in Japan... I'm biased of course but...)
Of course, don't panic if you don't have one, I've been here a year and a half and I'm still fine without a car^^

[KIKKI.K]

I've been placed in Shiroishi-shi, which while not in Fukushima itself, is right on the border between Miyagi and Fukushima. Apparently it's still close enough for my mother to begin trawling around for all the radiation information and complain that it's "barely" outside the evacuation zone. But that's what mothers tend to do, and I'm paying it no mind except to bring up the various data available to tell her, as stated on some radiation report for Miyagi, to "please be at ease".

So, I'm not a Fukushima ALT, but maybe I'm near enough to be an honourary member of the posse? Looking forward to being in the Tohoku area regardless!

I was placed in Tome city in Miyagi, I think I am a good deal away, but I wouldn't have cared if I were closer to Fukushima at all. I left my placement requests blank for a reason and I was ready to help in any way I could! I would do anything to be a part of this program and now earthquake is gonna keep me away. Or radiation for that matter.

CONGRATS TO EVERYONE!!!!

Hey guys^^ feel free to hang around this thread and ask questions to your heart's content! We'll help you out^^

If you want, if you can't read kanji, I'll look up your towns' radiation levels when I get home, and if I find anthing I'll be sure to post it up for you!

Tohoku's an amazing place, beautiful scenery, and for the most part it's recovering well, but you can still find plenty of ways to help out volunteering etc^^

[makar2112]

I was placed in Tome city in Miyagi, I think I am a good deal away, but I wouldn't have cared if I were closer to Fukushima at all. I left my placement requests blank for a reason and I was ready to help in any way I could! I would do anything to be a part of this program and now earthquake is gonna keep me away. Or radiation for that matter.

CONGRATS TO EVERYONE!!!!

Hey, first off congrats on getting into the program and your placement!! I'm in Kurihara-shi which is the city right next to Tome. Don't have much to worry about because we are safely inland and the radiation is there obv but incredibly minimal and no worry to your health. (although the we were the the only area to record the highest seismic level at a 7). Just have to be careful and pay attention to certain things like where certain foods are coming from which is usually always clearly labeled. Wish I could give you more specifics of where you'll be in Tome but alas I'm not a Tome ALT and there are a few who are leaving this year. But I'm sure you'll find out soon enough and hopefully see you this summer!!

[nannernaut]

First, let me say that Iwaki has the Second-Lowest radiation levels of a major urban area in Fukushima, despite being the closest city to the plant (only Aizu is lower).
Iwaki's levels average around 0.19 MICRO sieverts per hour, or 1.6 MILLI sieverts per year, so you'll be well below the world wide average of 2.4 MILLI sieverts per year^^

Awesome, this is the kind of thing I need to hit them with. I looked on Iwaki's site and it had a comparison to the radiation you get from x-rays, but I think the world-wide average will put them more at ease. And yay! I know someone from Iwaki already! Perhaps you know my predecessor ◎-◎ Tell meeee....

The cost of living here is low, since you know your city, we know that you're a municipal ALT which means your rent will be subsidised by the BoE^^ I manage to save more than half my paycheque each month and still down to Tokyo a couple of times....

This is good to know. I was a little worried about my student loans and whether I'd have enough to pay them for the month on top of rent. HUGE weight off my shoulders. Now I just need to figure out if I can cover start up costs and the loan payment for August

For tsunamis....that is a legitimate concern of theirs, I feel. I'd look up what you can on the area's tsunami disaster preparations, and show that you can come up with an evacuation plan to stay safe.

Yes, this is something I'd have to prepare for. I'm expecting they'll give me a lot of information about this, since I'm living in a coastal city that recently experienced one, but I'll start researching on my own, too.

Fukushima culture...we have lots of festivals, things are very humid, we love our Akabekos, skiing is pretty good here...

I looked up akabeko. I must have!! As for humidity, as a San Antonian I'm hoping I can hang. I'm getting good practice swimming to work in this 80% humidity.

I have requested to join the Fukushima ALTs on FB. Soon I will be one of you... ◎-◎

[KIKKI.K]

Hahaha, no I'm not your pred, you'll be stuck with me for at least another year mwahahahaha

Now I just need to figure out if I can cover start up costs and the loan payment for August

you'll have a minimum of futon table tv microwave fridge air con and utensils provided by our BoE, and it's most likely your pred will leave you an 80-90% set up apartment so... zero start up costs^^

Yes, this is something I'd have to prepare for. I'm expecting they'll give me a lot of information about this, since I'm living in a coastal city that recently experienced one, but I'll start researching on my own, too.

as far as I know, 5 of the Iwaki positions available this term are in coastal areas, but NONE of our apartments were hit by the 6-9m tsunami that hit Iwaki, so (famous last words) you should be ok... we also spent time comin up with an evac plan last year, and we'll do so again when all the newbies arrive^^ Not to panic you, but it's always good to be prepared^^

[cookiehearts]

Definitely join Fukushima ALTs on Facebook people! You will probably be able to find your pred, or someone who knows your pred, through there.

Also check out http://www.fujet.net (Fukushima AJET) for loads of information on Fukushima, as well as the kind of events FuJet runs, festivals that happen throughout the year, etc. We will be doing canyoning/paragliding/bungee jumping/rafting in early September in Gunma, so think about your finances if this is something you'd like to do!

There's also the forums if you don't have facebook - http://www.fujet.net/smf

And I really like this site - http://fuku-tabi.jp/en/index.html for stuff to do and info on Fukushima. Fukushima Live - http://fukushimalive.blogspot.jp is another site being set up by our PAs, which also has/will have info on stuff around the prefecture.

[LozaC]

Hi everybody

I got my placement information on Monday, and found out I have been placed in Asakawa Machi in Fukushima.

I kinda freaked out a little bit when I found out because I discussed this stuff with my parents before placements came out and they were quite adamant that if I was put anywhere near any radiation they wouldn't let me go. But they've been quite reasonable since I talked to them. My mum is still uncomfortable but my dad is happy that so long as I do the research about the area and radiation levels it should be fine.
Does anybody have any idea about radiation levels in Asakawa? From google maps it looks like it should be far enough away from the reactors that it shouldn't be too much of a problem, but you know, information isn't that easy to find in English...

Anyways, still feeling pretty excited, and it sounds like all the Fukushima JETs are pretty awesome from what I've seen, so hopefully I'll get to meet some of you in July

[KIKKI.K]

Hi everybody

I got my placement information on Monday, and found out I have been placed in Asakawa Machi in Fukushima.

I kinda freaked out a little bit when I found out because I discussed this stuff with my parents before placements came out and they were quite adamant that if I was put anywhere near any radiation they wouldn't let me go. But they've been quite reasonable since I talked to them. My mum is still uncomfortable but my dad is happy that so long as I do the research about the area and radiation levels it should be fine.
Does anybody have any idea about radiation levels in Asakawa? From google maps it looks like it should be far enough away from the reactors that it shouldn't be too much of a problem, but you know, information isn't that easy to find in English...

Anyways, still feeling pretty excited, and it sounds like all the Fukushima JETs are pretty awesome from what I've seen, so hopefully I'll get to meet some of you in July

Hey^^ I'll definitely look that up for you as soon as I get home this afternoon, if no one posts it up before then~~

[LozaC]

Hey^^ I'll definitely look that up for you as soon as I get home this afternoon, if no one posts it up before then~~

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help