Imperial family visits Fukushima to inspect recovery efforts

TOKYO — Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko visited Fukushima Prefecture on Monday to inspect the recovery efforts since the devastating earthquake and tsunami that triggered a nuclear plant meltdown 15 years ago.

The overnight trip includes visits to Futaba and Okuma, the towns that host the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex, as well as other towns located within a 20-kilometer radius of the facility.

It marks the first time the emperor has visited the towns since the accident, and the first time Princess Aiko has visited areas affected by the 2011 disaster.

On the first day, the imperial family visited Futaba and laid flowers at a memorial altar set up in the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum.

Around 180 people in the town lost their lives due to the tsunami and disaster-related causes.

The imperial family's itinerary for the day also included viewing exhibits at the museum on the earthquake and nuclear meltdown, including a diorama recreating the immediate aftermath of the nuclear accident and displays showing the progress of decontamination in surrounding areas, as well as meeting with survivors.

After staying at the J-Village sports facility, which was used as a disaster response base, the imperial family is scheduled Tuesday to view an exhibition of the tsunami's destruction in Tomioka, observe classes at a town-run educational facility and meet survivors in Okuma, and visit a rest stop in Namie.

Initial plans to visit Iwate and Miyagi prefectures from March 25 to 26 were canceled after the couple exhibited signs of a cold.

© KYODO