Summary:At a press conference on October 5, Fukushima Governor Uchibori explained that the evacuation order for two administrative districts, Miyaji and Hadori, within Futaba Town’s Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base area for returning residents is expected to be lifted in December. The prefecture said it will respond with respect for the town’s wishes.
Key Points
- At a press conference on October 5, Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori explained that the evacuation order for two administrative districts, Miyaji and Hadori, within Futaba Town’s area designated for returning residents is now expected to be lifted in December. The town had announced this outlook last week.
- Entry restrictions in these two districts have been eased since November of last year. The town is expected to consult with the prefecture in the coming period, and the prefecture said it will respond with full respect for the town’s wishes.
- The governor said that lifting an evacuation order is not the goal but the start, and that improving medical care, welfare and nursing care, school education and shopping facilities, as well as reviving livelihoods (nariwai), are important. He also said that the time remaining for the designated returning-residents area is less than four years.
Editorial Comment
The timing of the lifting is still at the stage of the town’s stated outlook of “December,” and consultations between the prefecture and the town are yet to take place. Even when an evacuation order is lifted, daily life does not return unless housing, places to work, hospitals, schools and shopping are in place. This is how we understand the governor’s words that it is “not the goal but the start.”
Reconstruction in Fukushima continues to this day, with areas still under evacuation orders remaining. Alongside reconstruction seen through figures and maps, we will keep reporting on what is changing on the ground.
Source: Fukushima Prefecture, “Governor’s Press Conference (October 5, Reiwa 8)” (2026-10-05)
Summarized and explained by the Tohokuru editorial team based on the source. The featured image is a screenshot of the source page. Please see the original article for details.