More than 10 years Great East Japan Earthquake 11 years Stricken area questionnaire March 11 18:30

It has been 11 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant of Tokyo Electric Power Company.

After 10 years of the earthquake, the reconstruction budget has decreased significantly, and the impact of the new corona has been prolonged even in the affected areas.

What has changed in the past year for the people in the affected areas?

What do you need now?

We will read the questionnaire of 1000 people with a social psychology expert who has been analyzing it immediately after the earthquake.

(Social Department reporter Keijiro Saito)

This questionnaire is

It was conducted online from February 1st to 3rd, and we received responses from 1000 people.

The subjects are people who live on the coasts of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima and in areas where evacuation orders have been issued due to the nuclear accident, and are registered with an Internet research company.

NHK has conducted questionnaires by mail or hand every year, but this time it has changed to the WEB format.

This is the result of trying to reflect a wide range of voices, including the younger generation who will be responsible for the future of the disaster area.

The average age of respondents used to be around 70, but this time it was 51.

What has changed over the past 10 years since the earthquake?

It has been one year since the 10-year "reconstruction period" that the government intensively supports ended in March last year.

How do the people living in the disaster area feel about the changes over the past year?

The first is the acceptance of support from the government and the private sector.

Compared to last year and now [Administrative support]

・ Decreased 36.9%

・ No change 33.1%

・ Increased 3.4%

・ I don't know 13.5%

Compared to last year and now [Private support]

・ Decreased 31.8%

・ No change 30.2%

・ Increased 2.3%

・ I don't know 19.5%

The scale of the national reconstruction budget 11 years after the earthquake is about 620 billion yen.

It is less than half of the previous year.

Although the budget has decreased, more than 30% of the respondents answered that it would not change, probably because there was a business that continued for the 11th year.

On the other hand, the most common were those who felt "decreased", slightly higher than "unchanged".

The reduction in support seems to be gradually spreading as a feeling of the disaster area.

In addition, the prolonged effects of the new coronavirus have cast a shadow over regional gatherings and the reconstruction of the local economy over the past year.

Was it affected by the new coronavirus? [Exchanges such as local gatherings]

・ There was a lot / a little 39.9%

・ Neither 29.5%

・ Not much / not at all 23.3%

Was it affected by the new coronavirus? [Reconstruction of the regional economy]

・ There was a lot / a little 30.3%

・ Neither 43.8%

・ Not much / not at all 16.6%

And what really caught my eye was the fact that after 10 years, the locals themselves have moved away from the topic of the earthquake.

The questionnaire included a desire to look forward, voices worried about weathering, and various emotions.

Compared to last year and now [Topics of the earthquake]

・ Decreased 45.4%

・ No change 38.3%

・ Increased 6.5%

・ I don't know 6.0%

Memories and lessons learned from the earthquake are weathering

・ I think / somewhat agree 62.7%

・ Neither 21.9%

・ I don't think so / I don't think 11.8%

・ I don't know 3.6%

It is a voice written in a free description.

"I can't be a victim forever" (Iwate prefecture, male, 36 years old)

"Don't forget, but now and in the future," (Fukushima prefecture, male, 60 years old)

"Even though I don't think it will be weathered, I will forget it" (Miyagi prefecture, female, 47 years old)

"Although it remains vividly in the memory of the victims, people other than the victims are forgetting because of the influence of the coronavirus" (Female, 51 years old, Iwate Prefecture)

"Even though it is still so weathered, can we really pass on the damage and experience of the earthquake 100 years later?" (Miyagi prefecture, female, 37 years old)

"The sense of crisis about the tsunami is fading" (Iwate prefecture, male, 38 years old)

"I don't think it can be said that it is a disaster area forever, but the number of children born after the earthquake is increasing ... I think it is necessary to take measures that can be left as lessons so as not to forget the earthquake." (Fukushima Prefecture Women 57) age)

Every year immediately after the earthquake, we asked an expert who analyzes the NHK questionnaire to analyze the psychology of the residents in the 11th year of the earthquake.

Professor Reo Kimura of the University of Hyogo, who specializes in social psychology.

Professor Reo Kimura, University of Hyogo

"With the 10th anniversary of the earthquake as one break, it has become difficult to raise the topic of the earthquake in the past year. Furthermore, due to the influence of the new corona, people gather and talk about something. However, such opportunities themselves have disappeared, and the weathering of the earthquake is accelerating. Among them, how to connect memories and lessons to generations who do not know the earthquake appears to people as an issue in the disaster area. ing"

Is reconstruction completed? Delayed in Fukushima

Over the past year, the reconstruction of the infrastructure in the affected areas has progressed further.

In December of last year, the "Sanriku Coast Expressway" connecting Sendai City and Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture was opened in all sections.

All the reconstruction roads and reconstruction support roads with a total length of 570 km that were promoted after the earthquake have been completed.

On the other hand, in most of the difficult-to-return areas around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, there is no concrete idea when the evacuation order can be lifted.

The current situation was reflected in the recognition of the reconstruction situation by each prefecture.

Reconstruction status is [Iwate Prefecture]　

・ Completed 19.7%

・ Progressed more than expected 30.5%

・ I don't know 21.3%

・ Delayed than expected 23.7%

・ Not progressed at all 4.8%

Reconstruction status is [Miyagi Prefecture]

・ Completed 15.4%

・ Progressed more than expected 29.3%

・ I don't know 22.6%

・ Delayed than expected 29.0%

・ Not progressed at all 3.7%

Reconstruction status is [Fukushima Prefecture]

・ Completed 9.3%

・ Progressed more than expected 28.0%

・ I don't know 19.7%

・ Delayed than expected 32.8%

・ Not progressed at all 10.1%

In Iwate and Miyagi, the percentage of those who answered "completed" and "advanced more than expected" exceeded the percentage of those who answered "behind expectations" and "not advanced at all".

On the other hand, in Fukushima, the ratio was reversed.

In most difficult-to-return areas where reconstruction is uncertain, evacuation orders are scheduled to be lifted in some areas.

It will be interesting to see how the country will show the future outlook for the entire area in the future.

Is the reconstruction completed? Infrastructure enhancement is also an issue for living and economy

When asked about the feelings of reconstruction by field, there was a noticeable difference.

Feeling of reconstruction [Transportation infrastructure such as roads and railroads]

・ Feeling / slightly feeling 68.8%

・ Neither 21.2%

・ Not very feeling / not feeling 10.0%

Reconstruction feeling [For living]

・ There is a feeling / a little feeling 19.0%

・ Neither is 49.3%

・ There is not much feeling / No feeling 31.7%

Feeling of reconstruction [connections between residents]

・ Feeling / slightly feeling 20.4%

・ Neither 50.2%

・ Not very feeling / not feeling 29.4%

Realization of reconstruction [Regional economy]

・ Feeling / slightly feeling 28.9%

・ Neither 42.0%

・ Not very feeling / not feeling 29.1%

About 20 to 30% of the respondents said that they felt that they were comfortable with their lifestyles, the connections between residents, and the reconstruction of the local economy.

Compared to infrastructure, it was 40 to 50 points lower.

While the reconstruction of roads and buildings has progressed, the reality is that many people have not been able to rebuild their lives.

It is a voice written in a free description.

"Anyway, work place, work place. Attractive work environment. If you don't have an environment where you can settle down and continue to live, you can't stay in that place for a long time." (Female, 52 years old, Iwate Prefecture)

"I have less work and less income. Mortgage repayments are barely enough to destroy my savings" (Fukushima prefecture, 41 years old, female)

"Even though income has decreased, prices of fuel and food have risen, putting pressure on households" (Iwate Prefecture, male, 53 years old)

"Many households have been forced to live a difficult life without recovering from the disaster. Financial support is needed." (Miyagi Prefecture, female, 61 years old)

"I had lost my job and was doing reconstruction work such as decontamination, but my income is also decreasing due to the decrease in work. I want you to utilize the land where residents do not return and increase the number of job offers in Fukushima Prefecture" (Fukushima Prefecture female 53 years old)

"If you don't have a job, the residents won't return. The young people who got a job at the new location in 10 years will not return even more. Will it be? ”(Fukushima prefecture male 70 years old)

Professor Kimura says that the situation of reconstruction varies depending on the region and residents, and it is more important to provide support according to the actual situation.

Professor Reo Kimura, University of Hyogo

"One of the points of long-term reconstruction is to revitalize the region through economic recovery and revitalization of connections, but the current situation is that reconstruction is not accelerating due to the influence of the new corona. It became clear. While more and more people think that the reconstruction of the hard side has come to an end due to the opening of the entire Sanriku coastal road, the recovery of the economy and the soft side has been delayed. It is necessary to take measures that suit the actual situation. "

What is needed for future reconstruction

Then, what kind of support are people in the disaster area looking for in the future?

We asked them to rate various support measures on a five-point scale, from "highly necessary" to "not necessary at all."

We have summarized the percentage of people who answered "greatly necessary" or "somewhat necessary".

・ "Dispelling damage from rumors" * Answered only by residents of Fukushima Prefecture 66.4%

・ "Utilization of external power such as recruiting human resources and attracting companies" 55.2%

・ "Mental care" 54.2%

・ "Economical to local companies and industries" Support ”54.1%

・“ Financial support for individuals and households ”47.2%

・“ Invitation of migrants ”46.1%

・“ Human support such as watching activities by government and NPOs ”43.9%

As a result, there were many calls for measures against reputational damage, which are expected from outside human resources and companies, and cooperation outside the disaster area is indispensable.

It can be said that human and financial support is needed in the disaster area, and that there is a limit to solving the problems only in the disaster area.

On the other hand, when I looked at the free description, I was particularly impressed by the loudness of the voice that appealed for the need for mental care.

"No matter how many years, the memories of the earthquake will not disappear. When I remember the earthquake, I will cry. I think that suffering and sadness will continue forever." (Miyagi Prefecture, female, 53 years old)

"The decommissioning work of the nuclear power plant is not finished yet, and every time various problems become clear in the process, I feel gloomy" (Fukushima Prefecture, female 57 years old)

"Many acquaintances suffer from PTSD. I know several people who chose to commit suicide. I want a concrete plan such as dispatching a counselor rather than vague things such as mental care and watching over." (Woman 35, Iwate Prefecture) age)

Professor Kimura said as follows.

Professor Reo Kimura, University of Hyogo

"While the topic of the earthquake is decreasing, the thoughts and awareness of the earthquake have not changed in my heart. The eyes of roads and buildings have not changed. Even after the visible reconstruction has settled down, problems such as mental care, economy, and exchanges still remain. We need to provide even more support that suits each situation. "

Also, about the fact that there are many expectations for external power.

Professor Reo Kimura, University of Hyogo

"One more step, external power is needed as a force to create a new area. How can we gather the opinions of local residents while borrowing external wisdom and how in the disaster area? Is it a challenge to create a new life or to take on a new stage beyond 10 years after the earthquake? "

One year from the turning point of 10 years.

From the answers to the questionnaire and the words spelled out in it, it became clear that there were many people who still complained about the challenges of sharing lessons with people who did not know the disaster and still complaining about their mental disorders.

I strongly felt that it was necessary to continue to pay attention to the disaster-stricken areas in response to the results of this time, which complained that it would be difficult to achieve reconstruction in the disaster-stricken areas alone.

Keijiro Saito ,

Reporter of the Social Affairs Department

2010 Admission

Data analysis, disasters, child-rearing, education, etc.