Last December, I left Japan. I only had 70,000JPY (877USD).

That was all I had in my bank account, and the cash of 60,000 JPY (751 USD) in my wallet was what I borrowed just before the day of my flight.

Some Japanese people criticize me, I could have escaped because I was rich, but that’s all wrong.

I had one suitcase. That was / is all of my property. I hadn’t gone out of Japan almost.

I was supposed to transit at Moscow airport but I had no idea how it would be. and then I took trains from Vienna to South France. It took me 30 hours and I had to change the trains a couple of times too.

If something happened, I would have gotten lost.

Everything was new to me. From contaminated land to the city covered with snow.

and the continental dry weather in Vienna to the desert ish land of South France.

When I arrived at the station, I found someone I have only talked to on facebook. She immediately recognized me. That was good job of me not to have photoshopped my profile picture.

The first thing I did after arrival was to look for a wifi. I turned to be completely a blogger by that time.

The first few weeks passed very slowly but it was really peaceful. European style of the town, language, fashion, everything was completely new to me. but I started feeling the pressure of staying there as a tourist.

I would have to move in 3 months. I often had paranoid, had to check the website of immigration office sometimes.

and now I’m in NY.

I have 7 pants, 7 pairs of socks, 3 shirts, 2 jackets, 3 trousers and bought a downjacket day before yesterday. I always wear the same boots because there’s no space in my suitcase, but the handle of my suitcase is broken. Anyway, I’m fine. This is one important point.

I will stop at somewhere, but I won’t be localized. I’ve seen the risk of being localized.

Some of the readers take time to read this blog and leave nasty comments. Most of them gain benefit from staying in Japan because my point is “Get out of Japan”.

I didn’t have money. but I didn’t have debt either, this is why I can move.

I didn’t have a house, car, fake family, and nothing. Probably I won’t have those things for the rest of life either. Being able to leave the country I hate is my political attitude.

It’s been a journey. I changed a lot, but still don’t forget what happened. Japan didn’t change much, but already starting to forget what happened.

I don’t care whatever happens to that government, but I want to save Japanese people.

I keep articles practical like the inside of my suitcase, but I actually fall in the deep sorrow, desperation, and cry as I write things. Cows are dying, nuclear workers have their salary cut, half of the Fukushima children got thyroid problem. It’s really irritating that I can’t do anything for them. Unless you have splashing passion, it’s hard to keep this going on.

Now I just want to lie on the carpet, forget about visa, and read some book in my own room (Rent) like when I was a child. I would give myself a Christmas present. Imagining my potential small room is the only thing to reassure me.

 

 

 

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Italiano :

[Editoriale] Viaggio di sola andata
Lo scorso dicembre ho lasciato il Giappone. Avevo solo 70.000 Yen (877 Dollari).
Era tutto quello che avevo nel mio conto in banca, oltre al contante di 60.000 Yen (751 Dollari) nel mio portafoglio, che avevo preso in prestito il giorno prima del mio volo.
Alcuni giapponesi mi criticano, dicono che sono scappato perché ero ricco, ma non è affatto vero.
Avevo una valigia, che era (è) tutto ciò che ho. Non ero quasi mai andato fuori dal Giappone.
Avrei dovuto fare scalo all’aeroporto di Mosca ma non avevo idea di come sarebbe stato. E poi ho preso i treni da Vienna al Sud della Francia. Ho impiegato 30 ore e ho dovuto cambiare treno un paio di volte.
Se fosse successo qualcosa mi sarei perso.
Era tutto nuovo per me, dalla terra contaminata a una città coperta di neve. E dal clima asciutto continentale di Vienna all’isola deserta del sud della Francia.
Quando sono arrivato alla stazione ho incontrato qualcuno con cui avevo parlato solo su Facebook. Mi ha riconosciuto immediatamente. Ho fatto bene a non photoshoppare la mia foto del profilo.
La prima cosa che ho fatto quando sono arrivato è stata cercare una connessione wifi. Da quel momento in poi sono diventato un blogger.
Le prime settimane sono passate molto lente ma anche molto pacifiche. Lo stile urbano europeo, la lingua, la moda, era tutto completamente nuovo per me. Ma ho iniziato a sentire la pressione di stare lì come turista. Me ne sarei dovuto andare in 3 mesi. Avevo spesso la paranoia e qualche dovevo controllare sul sito dell’ufficio immigrazione.

E ora sono a New York.
Ho 7 mutande, 7 paia di calzini, 3 magliette, 2 giacche, 3 pantaloni e ho comprato un piumino l’altro giorno. Indosso sempre gli stessi stivali perché non c’è spazio nella mia valigia ma la maniglia della mia valigia è rotta. In ogni caso, sto bene. Questa è la cosa importante.
Mi fermerò da qualche parte, ma non sarò rintracciabile. Ho visto i rischi di essere rintracciabile.
Alcuni lettori usano il loro tempo per leggere questo blog e lasciare brutti commenti. La maggior parte di loro ottiene benefici dallo stare in Giappone perché il punto di ciò che dico è “Stare lontano dal Giappone”.
Io non avevo soldi ma non avevo nemmeno debiti, per questo mi posso spostare.
Non avevo una casa, una macchina, una famiglia finta… niente. Probabilmente non avrò queste cose per il resto della mia vita. Essere in grado di lasciare il paese che odio è la mia posizione politica.
E’ un viaggio. Sono cambiato molto ma ancora non ho dimenticato ciò che è successo. Il Giappone, invece, non è cambiato molto ma sta già dimenticando cos’è successo.
Non mi interessa che cosa succede al suo governo ma voglio salvare il popolo giapponese.
Mantengo i miei articoli pratici come l’interno della mia valigia ma, in realtà, cado in un profondo senso di dolore, disperazione e piango mentre scrivo. Le mucche stanno morendo, i lavoratori delle centrali hanno il loro salario dimezzato, la metà dei bambini di Fukushima ha problemi di tiroide. E’ davvero irritante non poter fare niente per loro. A meno che tu non abbia un’enorme passione è difficile continuare tutto ciò.
Ora voglio solo distendermi sul tappeto, dimenticare la mia visa e leggere qualche libro nella mia stanza (in affitto) come quando ero piccolo. Vorrei farmi un regalo di natale. Pensare alla mia piccola stanza è l’unica cosa che mi rassicura.

 

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Français :

[Edito] Voyage sans retour

En décembre dernier, j’ai quitté le Japon. Je n’avais que 70 000 JPY (877,00 USD).

C’était tout ce que j’avais sur mon compte bancaire et le liquide de 60 000 JPY (751,00 USD) dans ma valise était ce que j’avais emprunté la veille du jour de mon voyage en avion.

Certains japonais me critiquent, j’ai pu m’échapper parce que je suis riche, mais c’est complètement faux.

J’avais une valise. C’était/ c’est tout ce que je possède. Je n’ai presque rien sorti du Japon.

J’étais supposé transiter par l’aéroport de Moscou mais je n’avais aucune idée de ce que ça allait être. alors j’ai pris le train de Vienne pour le sud de la France. Ça m’a pris 30 heures et j’ai eu aussi à changer de train une paire de fois.

Si quelque chose était arrivé j’aurais été perdu.

Tout était nouveau pour moi. Depuis une terre contaminée jusqu’aux villes couvertes de neige.

et du climat continental sec de Vienne aux paysages désertiques du sud de la France.

En arrivant à la gare, j’ai trouvé quelqu’un avec qui je n’avais jamais parlé en dehors de Facebook. Elle m’a immédiatement reconnu. Ça a été une bonne chose pour moi de ne pas avoir “photoshopé” ma photo de profil.

La première chose que j’ai faite après mon arrivée a été de chercher du wifi. J’étais complètement devenu bloggueur à ce moment-là.

Les premières semaines sont passées très doucement mais c’était vraiment tranquille. Le style européen de la ville, le langage, la mode, tout était complètement nouveau pour moi mais j’ai commencé à sentir la pression me poussant à rester là comme un touriste.

J’aurai du avoir à bouger dans les 3 mois. J’ai souvent été parano, eu à contrôler le site du service de l’immigration parfois.

et maintenant je suis à New-York.

J’avais 7 pantalons, 7 paires de chaussettes, 3 chemises, 2 vestes, 3 pantalons et j’ai acheté un tricot de corps avant-hier. J’ai toujours porté les mêmes chaussures parce qu’il n’y a pas de place dans ma valise mais la poignée de ma valise est cassée. De toute façon, je vais bien. C’est une chose importante.

Je m’arrêterai quelque part mais je ne voudrais pas être localisé. J’ai vu le risque d’être localisé.

Certains lecteurs prennent le temps de lire ce blog et de laisser des commentaires désobligeants. La plupart d’entre eux tirent profit de rester au Japon parce que ma ligne est “Sortir du Japon”.

Je n’avais pas d’argent mais je n’avais pas de dettes non plus, c’est pourquoi je peux bouger.

Je n’avais pas de maison, de voiture, de fausse famille, rien. Je n’aurai sans doute pas ces choses-là pour le reste de ma vie non plus. Pouvoir quitter le pays que je hais est mon attitude politique.

Ça a été un sacré voyage. J’ai beaucoup changé mais je n’oublie toujours pas ce qui s’est passé. Le Japon n’a pas beaucoup changé mais il commence déjà à oublier ce qui s’est passé.

Je me fiche de ce qui peut bien arriver à ce gouvernement mais je voudrais sauver les japonais.

Je garde des articles pratiques comme l’intérieur de ma valise mais je sombre en fait dans une profonde peine, désespoir et pleurs quand j’écris les choses. Les vaches meurent, les ouvriers du nucléaire voient leurs salaires réduits de moitié, la moitié des enfants de Fukushima ont des problèmes de thyroïde. C’est vraiment énervant que je ne puisse rien faire pour eux. Sauf à avoir une passion débordante, il est difficile de tenir tout ça.

Maintenant, je voudrais juste m’allonger sur le tapis, oublier les histoires de visa et lire un livre dans ma propre chambre (louée), comme quand j’étais enfant. Je voudrais me faire un cadeau de noël. Imaginer ma possible petite chambre est la seule chose qui me rassure.

  1. Go to Los Angeles and enjoy the sunshine. You will meet incredible people that think just like you. Your blog will turn into whatever you want. This can only happen in the city of the angels.

  2. Stay strong my friend. After all of your travels, strength begins to show at every turn. You have great words capable of changing others and the world. I was inspired by your story, have you considered writing a book? I think about Fukushima and the children of Japan often, I believe a turning point is coming up soon and it is the one we’ve been fighting for.

    Be well.

    PS Welcome to NY.

    -John

  3. God bless you Iori, If I had money to spare I would contribute to your effort. You are a good person. If you get near Notre Dame, South Bend Indiana, you are welcome to contact us. We live just north of that. Your welcome in my Philippine/American household as an honored guest. Stay strong and keep the focus of your message true. We need people to evacuate the areas in danger and we need to hold those responsible accountable for the crimes they commit against all of humanity. Take care~

  4. Iori-san, I read somewhere (sorry I don’t remember where) that there is a refugee grant in the US for those from Japan that wants to flee the country due to the nuclear crisis. Now I don’t know if such a grant really exists as I saw it under a comment on some blog. Perhaps you can talk with immigration offices in the US as well other countries to see if you can get an asylum status.

  5. Wow, I’m sorry you are having such a nomadic difficult time. I wish a peace in your heart that it would wash over you like sunlight. Maybe it’s time to move on. I don’t know where you are now, but if you are able to recuperate in the sunshine, it might be good for your spirits. If it’s belonging to a family at Christmas time is what you need, then if you can get to the Okanagan, British Columbia, consider yourself adopted! You have my email address, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line. You have an open invitation and a family that feels your pain. We will be thinking and praying for you, always. Take care of yourself, Leslie.

  6. Iori,

    I too left my country because of Fukushima, but in my case it was the U.S. that I left. And I understand your disdain for the government and concern for the people. It would be too bad if you escaped Japan only to suffer radiation poisoning in the U.S. For other reasons, too, NYC is the most dangerous place to be (http://www.naturalnews.com/036951_financial_collapse_optimism_silver_lining.html) Please check my website http://www.fukushimafaq.info if you want to know why you need to move as far south as you can get, as fast as you can. I am living in an amazing small Mexican city where a lot of people speak English, and I have a pleasant living space — with fresh air, perfect weather — available for you at no charge if you want it. You can stay in Mexico for 180 days on a tourist card (cost about $25). Then you leave the country, go visit nearby Belize or Guatemala for a few days, and return to Mexico, getting another 180 days on a new tourist card. It is a great country, with wonderful people and lifestyle. Really, please think about where you need to be!

  7. Iori –

    Have you considered getting married over there in the US? Of course you should not marry just to get a visa, but I bet there are a lot of single ladies following your blog…

  8. Family can be more fake than friends or even strangers. You think they love you until you need help or ask them to understand, then they turn on you like viscious animals. That’s when we find out family means nothing and is only a convenience. You can find friends who will love and help you more.

    Or in some cases, when you cannot depend on anyone, it’s better to be alone with your own sanity than to try to change idiots.

    “It is better to be alone than to be in bad company”
    – George Washington

  9. You are on the right path iori. It may be treacherous at times but if you keep going it will change. That is life. I commend you for protecting life in such a noble and honerable way. Your love of life and humanity gives me so much hope. Your family would be so proud of you if they knew the whole truth. Nobody could be angry with you if they knew the truth, unless they are pure evil. There still are not a lot of people in this world that are that bad. Most are just weak, scared, and confused, but thanks to you and people like you, their numbers will shrink. If you are in the D.C. area I would like to know and help.

  10. Off Topic
    19:50PM JST 24-OCT
    Ukishima monitoring post in Kanagawa spiking at 103
    Other Kanagawa still low
    What’s happening?
    Trash burning?
    Local leak?

  11. 20:00 (collection time 19:50)
    Now 114
    Higher than Ibaraki (111)
    Never saw this before
    It is NOT raining now.

  12. It’s a difficult time. I’m sorry.
    There are ways to go on, but also to stop.
    To look inside, accept all the pain. To stop.
    To turn inside, meditate. Not to run.

    You are strong, Mochizuki. No need to worry.
    Inside is where your room is. You carry it
    with you. But I wish you good lodging as well.
    God bless you.

    It’s hard not to take the lashing out from
    ignorance, personally. It’s taken me 50 years
    to realize, it’s their way of telling me, “I’m
    miserable. I’m afraid.” No one has an education
    how to understand their feelings, thoughts, and
    how to deal with the derangements of their lives
    in a way that is beneficial to themselves. They
    are not gentle with themselves, or others.
    But peace and quiet are the prizes of life.

    Namaste

  13. Iori tai hen! What do you think about west or south Japan? It will be easier to settle in your own country, which is wider than you might think, especially considering it is upwind of the danger zone. And here in Sanin, for example, it is hard to find any produce from east of Nagano or Yamanashi. Anyway, keep up the great work.

  14. HI Lori:
    This is the second time in a few short days I see that you are depressed. Certainly it is the time of year that many get depressed with the change of seasons but I worry about you. The person who encouraged you to go to California is absolutely correct – you should head there. New York on its best day can be depressing. Get your thumb out and start hitching! If the sunshine doesn’t bring you out of this slump the people there will.
    If you put in a an article stating you’re going there and ask for help you will receive it.
    I can sympathize with you and can’t imagine what it is like for you far from your friends, family and home country. Japan is such a beautiful place and even your cities are very different than New York,
    Know that you are where you are supposed to be doing what you’re supposed to be doing. If not for you I believe that many more would or will perish. With the knowledge you are imparting people have at least a choice between believing that the officials are telling them and the truth. You are a hero and although you may not be receiving the attention you deserve, when the history books are written (If we survive this), I’m sure they will talk about you and the others who have the courage to speak out.
    I predict that very soon the tragedies will being to happen. When people’s children start dying of illnesses that cannot be attributed to anything but Fukushima, then you will see the Japanese people rise up. It will be something to see but at a huge and terrible cost. I pray that I am wrong but I know I’m not. If SPF#4 goes then the entire human race only has a short time left – maybe 50 years before everything on the planet is dead.
    Go to California and you’ll find many kindred spirits there are just waiting to help you.
    Blessings from BC and don’t forget you have a place to stay in Parson as well.

  15. Come to California. I think there are many of us who follow your blog from California. You don’t need a visa, many people here are “under the radar”. Traveling from NY to CA will give you a real feel for the US, and how every state is almost like it’s own country. The topography, climate changes and scenery will awaken your soul to the beauty that surrounds you. Keep the faith my friend, you can do this and have many who support what you are trying to accomplish. We are all on this planet together.

    1. Agreed. California would be a good destination, but don’t overstay your visa. Maybe go to BC first to visit Leslie and then duck back into the US to reset the visa clock. LA has one of the largest Japanese-American populations in the country (NY and HI were the others last time I checked). The sun can do wonders for your outlook.

      1. No California right now!! We are right in the target of the jet stream! Come on, let’s keep Iori healthy for as long as we can. If you want to come to California, come in the summer, the jet stream was so far north for months, and eat food from the southern hemisphere. Avoid the Canadian-US border area during the summer, it gets hit hard. It may be better to move to the Southern Hemisphere.

  16. Salut…
    des cons y’en a plein…
    c’est eux qui ont le temps de t’écrire…

    Je prend 5min de mon temps pour te dire:
    BRAVO!… CONTINUE!… FORZA!…don’t give up!!!!
    on est plein à être avec Toi!!!!
    COURAGE!… tu es dans le vrai…

    Je suis personne… mais je suis pas seul!!!
    je te lis tous les jours…

    à bientôt

    Gilles

  17. You are doing something for Japanese people. I check your blog everyday and send some articles to my family in Japan.

    We might have not seen any drastic changes in Japan but something is changing slowly. I told my sister about a professor Kunihiko Takeda’s seminar (koenkai) who, you probably know, is one of good and honest professionals in Japan. He has been posting good information about radiation and criticizing Japanese government and Tepco’s wrongdoings on his blog. His seminar originally limited the number of people to 300, but I guess so many people were interested that the capacity was changed to 500 people. On the day of the event, the place was almost full of people, young, old, men, and women. Although the professor talked about subjects other than radiation and nuclear power, I bet most of the people there were interested to hear about radiation. My sister told me that so many people raised their hands to ask him questions. I was surprised to hear that because Japanese people are usually quiet and hardly ask questions in the situation like that. I thought something is changing among Japanese people. More and more people have started thinking and worrying about radiation. They are doing their own research and trying to find answers.

    Lori, you are helping Japanese people. You may not see it right now, but you are contributing a lot. As someone mentioned, you may want to take some vacation in sunny places like California or Florida, which is closer from NY. The weather definitely affect your mood. You might be burnt out. A short vacation in a sunny place can make a huge difference.

    1. Here Iori , have this dream come true , and always make sure Proof is true and made available .
      Another world for you to pass the time and defeat depression :

      TheRecipeForaNation.WordPress.com , future shocking just for you !

  18. You can stay with us here in the country eastl of Austin,Texas.let us know if we can make rooom for you! We are a few families learning to live a simpler life close to the land.

  19. Smart move to get out of Japan. I know it took a lot of guts to escape. As an American I do not recommend staying in the US unless you are a perpetual tourist and can leave here at a moment’s notice. I would highly recommend living in the southern hemisphere, not only far from the US but potential final Fukushima collapse and worldwide fallout that spells death to a majority on the planet. S. America, esp. Chile and Argentina will be the safest places to live.

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About this site

This website updates the latest news about the Fukushima nuclear plant and also archives the past news from 2011. Because it's always updated and added live, articles, categories and the tags are not necessarily fitted in the latest format.
I am the writer of this website. About page remains in 2014. This is because my memory about 311 was clearer than now, 2023, and I think it can have a historical value. Now I'm living in Romania with 3 cats as an independent data scientist.
Actually, nothing has progressed in the plant since 2011. We still don't even know what is going on inside. They must keep cooling the crippled reactors by water, but additionally groundwater keeps flowing into the reactor buildings from the broken parts. This is why highly contaminated water is always produced more than it can circulate. Tepco is planning to officially discharge this water to the Pacific but Tritium is still remaining in it. They dilute this with seawater so that it is legally safe, but scientifically the same amount of radioactive tritium is contained. They say it is safe to discharge, but none of them have drunk it.

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