Mark Forbes, F is for Fukushima (Documentary/Photojournalism (ATEP 2017))

These photos are part of a broader photo documentary that I shot at the time of the 5 year anniversary of the Fukushima disaster. The documentary was based around interviewing those people that had been displaced from their homes by the 2011 earthquake / tsunami / nuclear melt down and were only now, 5 years later being given the opportunity to return - if they chose to. The documentary contrasted those that had chosen to return, with those who no longer had a desire to move back. The interviewees detailed their personal story of the events and what had happened to them in the 5 years following. At the end of the interview they were asked to use traditional Japanese calligraphy to write a message of their wishes for the future. The documentary also included a visit into the locked down mandatory exclusion zone, where only ex residents have limited access per year. Photo descriptions as follows: [1] My translator holds a geiger counter at the the cherry trees of Sakura-Dori on the once famous tourist attraction in Tomioka inside the forbidden zone. 2) Empty swing set at the now closed Naraha South Primary School. 3) Taishi was a teacher at the Futaba South Primary School - within the forbidden zone. His photograph shows the state of his classroom when he was briefly allowed a few hours to return some months after the disaster. 4) Ms Rumiko Yokota. She lived in the Naraha area for over 50 years, has returned to her house there 5 years on from the disaster. Her reaction is shown after being asked her feelings about nuclear power now - "it is a difficult question". 5) Mrs Tomeo Murao was looking after a heard of 30 cats after being one of the first residents to return to her house after the mandatory evacuation ban was lifted. 6) Ms Tsuruko Takasaki lived her whole life in Naraha, and despite now being given the permission to move back she has chosen to stay away. Her calligraphy for the future says simply "peace".

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.