Struck by Fukushima's beauty

Name: Zhang Naiji Nationality: Chinese Location Visited: Kitakata City

Message

Hi everyone my name is Zhang Naiji, I’m from Shanghai, China, and am currently studying as a post-graduate student.

I attended the ‘2014 Fukushima Support & Exchange Tour for Chinese University Students’ held from the end of October to the beginning of November. Before coming to Fukushima my impressions consisted of what I had heard about the nuclear power plant accident. I left for Japan thinking that ‘Since 3 years have passed surely recovery must have progressed significantly by now.’

However after only 4 days taking part in the tour, my thoughts on Fukushima were completely renewed. Fukushima is full of beautiful nature, its food is delicious, and more than anything its people are kind. I thought that many unpleasant experiences go hand in hand with traveling to an unknown land, but that was not the case in Fukushima. I believe this is thanks to Fukushima’s wonderful culture and history. Fukushima is the 3^rd biggest prefecture in Japan, and on the tour we were only able to see the tip of the iceberg. Even so, I quickly fell in love with the beauty of Nihonmatsu, Ura-bandai, Kitakata City, and Lake Inawashiro.

If I get the chance, I would like to revisit Fukushima. And I would love if all of you reading this could visit as well. I people to realize that Fukushima is much more than just a ‘Damaged prefecture’.