One hundred people currently living in temporary housing in Fukushima arrive in Okinawa
In the afternoon on March 15 at Naha Airport, the guests of the invited tour for the elderly living in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake arrived in Okinawa. (Taken by Akiko Kuwabara)
March 16, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo
In the afternoon on March 15, 100 people arrived at Naha Airport on an invited tour for the elderly living in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The Okinawa Prefectural Government, the Great East Japan Earthquake Support and Cooperation Council and the Okinawa Prefectural Council of Social Welfare organized the tour. The participants are all 65 years old or older. As part of reconstruction support for the affected areas, the tour is designed to provide encouragement to elderly people currently living in temporary housing because of the accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. During the four-day trip, the guests will visit sightseeing spots and have a rest in Okinawa’s warm climate.
At the airport, Okinawa Vice Governor Kanetoshi Yoseda and members of the Okinawa Jangara-Kai, a group of evacuees from Fukushima to Okinawa, greeted the guests. The leader of the tour, Susumi Yamasawa, the vice chairperson of the Soma City Council of Social Welfare, said, “A couple of days ago, the temperature plunged to below zero in Fukushima. Okinawa is a nice, warm place. I really appreciate the people of Okinawa organizing this trip for us.”
Tomeko Otani has been looking forward to coming to Okinawa, saying, “I feel like I’m dreaming.”
Masayoshi and Mineko Osawa said, “The tsunami swept away our house and we are still living in temporary housing. We want to create many pleasant memories of our stay here in Okinawa.”
From March 16, they are scheduled to visit Shurijo Castle Park and the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, and will attend a party with the Okinawa Jangara-Kai.
(English translation by T&CT, Lima Tokumori and Mark Ealey)
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