Fukushima
Poka PokaProject2016 ReportFukushima Poka Poka Project Office: International Environmental NGO FoE Japan
1-21-9 Komone, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0037 info@foejapan.org
Organizations in Charge: Save Watari Kids / Fukurou no Kai (“Thinking About the Outdated Fukushima

Nuclear Power Plant” Organization) / International Environmental NGO FoE JapanIn Collaboration With: Foundation for Cooperative Community Creation / HEART for FUKUSHIMA KIDS (CHIBA BOSO)

This Year’s
Poka Poka
Fiscal Year 2016 Retreat Dates
In 2016, marking the sixth year since the Fukushima
Nuclear Power Plant Accident, Fukushima-related news
reports have seen a decline and many of us have resumed
our everyday lives as if nothing had happened.
However, despite the fact that the “Fukushima PokaPoka Project” have not been actively recruiting new participants, inquiries into the retreats continue to increase.
With a 60% repeat rate, this year, Poka Poka welcomed
new participants from a greater area of Fukushimaincluding not only the middle region but the easternregion thanks to the many introductions by participating friends.
The fact that the number of retreat-seekers are only
increasing as time passes is a testament to the importance and necessity that in the absence of national aid asoriginally promised by the “Nuclear Disaster Victims’
Support Act”, we must work to increase the numberof organizations and years that provide these retreatsat the local and civilian level (see National Survey onRetreats†). We can also speculate that because of thenational and prefectural government’s return policy,
many families who were forced to return from theirevacuation sites are desperately seeking retreats anddriving the applications and inquiries into Poka Poka toincrease.
It will remain crucial in fiscal year 2017 that all
retreat providing organizations and retreat participants
work together to appeal to the national and prefectural
government the need for such retreats.

2016
4/29-5/1 Inawashiro (16 participants)
5/3-5
Inawashiro (25 participants)
6/18, 19 Inawashiro (15 participants)
7/16-18 Inawashiro (21 participants)
8/11-17 Minami-boso (25 participants)
9/17-19 Inawashiro (24 participants)
10/29, 30 Inawashiro (17 participants)
11/19, 20 Inawashiro (26 participants)

2017
1/5-9
3/18-20
3/25-29

Inawashiro (28 participants)
Inawashiro (24 participants)
Minami-boso (18 participants)

Inawashiro: 9 retreats / Minami-boso: 2 retreats
Total retreats: 11
Total Participants: 239

Germany Exchange Program Activities
2/12
3/24-26
4/21-5/2
5/21
9/24

Orientation
Inawashiro Study Retreat
Exchange in Rendsburg, Germany
Report Meeting (Tokyo)
Report Meeting (Fukushima)

In addition, centered around the high school anduniversity students that participated in the German
exchange program in 2016, many Fukushima residents
are taking a more proactive role in the operation sideof these retreats. This had led to the formation of new
initiatives as well as an increase in many mother andfathers who join the retreats as volunteer staff rather
than participants. As a result, we feel that the Poka Pokaretreats are experiencing a turning point in terms ofbecoming a retreat that truly addresses the Fukushimaresidents’ needs.

† The National Survey on Retreats sent out surveys to 234 organizations in July 2016 and received answers from 107 organizations(45.7% response rate). The survey results indicate that 9,000 people participate in these retreats in a year.

2Fukushima Poka Poka Project | 2016 Report1 Family

Because “Poka Poka House” used to be apension or a guest house, it is divided into
10 rooms making it welcoming for all kindsof families to stay. Families with many siblings,
large age gaps, and babies can join the retreat without any hesitation.

What We Valueat Poka Poka

2 Keeping Scolding to a Minimum

An important rule of Poka Poka is to never say “Be quiet!” Often moms and dads scold their children too much in their daily lives and they tend to scold their children even more when with otherfamilies. When the adults stop scolding, the children become more free to express themselves leading the adults to feel more calm. Eventually, everyone will be smiling.

3 FoodAt Poka Poka, with the cooperation of co-op organizations, we use safe and nutritious ingredientswith plenty of vegetables and fewer additives in order to support the immune system.

4 Everyone Cooks, Everyone Cleans

While cooking together, parents naturally share many of their concerns and worries regarding theirchildren’s health as well as everyday life. Often the children will want to help and will even makedessert on their own if we provide the ingredients in advance. When we eat together, mealtimes
become fun and many children will willingly eat vegetables they normally refuse. If given notice inadvance, we also accommodate food allergies. As a self-catered retreat, of course everyone participates in the cooking and cleaning.

5 Respect

There are many ways of thinking about radiation as well as how to raise children. Some people wantto evacuate but cannot for familial reasons while some returned to Fukushima after evacuating,some people feel retreats are necessary while others do not. At Poka Poka, we welcome all ways ofthinking and strive to create an environment in which everyone feels comfortable to share their own
ways of thinking. The same applies to raising children. Each child is different. We strive to create anenvironment in which all children, regardless if they have a disability, can freely and happily spend
time together.

6 Knowledge

Information presented in the media, hidden information, health information,
information on ways to live with radiation in Fukushima… in a society where
we are lost in who or what to believe, at Poka Poka, we invite a variety of experts
to provide seminars and consolations. We also hold seminars on intestinalbacteria and how to boost our immune system. As a way of studying the positive
health effects of fermented foods, we even tried homemade miso making.

7 From Participant to Staff

Over 10 youths who were once participants as children have now become volunteer staff since becoming high school students. Many parents have also become
volunteer staff after repeatedly coming to Poka Poka as participants. In order forthese necessary retreats to continue operating long-term, it is very encouraging
and important that those within the Fukushima community are also taking partin the operations.
Fukushima Poka Poka Project | 2016 Report3

4

Fukushima Poka Poka Project | 2016 ReportFukushima Poka Poka Project | 2016 Report5Response fromParticipants

Losing track of time as they play inthe yard, sledding, skiing, etc. I feelthat the children are able to experience
many things in nature they are unable
to experience within Fukushima city. I
would love to participate in these retreatsagainst next year.

T

alking to the Bird Expert was veryinteresting. Watching how excited
my child was in anticipation for the birds
that will come and use the bird nest we
set up, I hope that my child will growup to be an adult who has an interest
in Fukushima’s nature and takes initiative on such matters. I thought the Bird
Expert was great with both children andeven adults. I was very impressed.

E

specially in the winter, my children
and I tend to be tucked away in thehouse not allowing the children muchtime to play outside. At the ski resort,the kids can sled all they want! The kids
also got to experience new things like ice
skating which is something they would
have never been able to experience orfeel had they stayed at home. The friends
we made and the people we encountered
there remain very special to us.

T

his was our second time coming toPoka Poka. I participated with fourchildren including a third grader, a firstgrader, and 3-year-old twins. The children started playing in the snow as soon
as we arrived at the Poka Poka House.
They looked like they were having somuch fun sledding and jumping into thesnow. In the afternoon, we were taken tothe Inawashiro Ski Resort where my ele-6Fukushima Poka Poka Project | 2016 Reportmentary school girls
got to try skiing for thefirm time. Although theystruggled, this was a valuable experience for them and it will
hopefully lead them to more opportunities in the future. My 3-year-old sonsalso had a great time glued to 6 grade
girls who took them sledding. While they
were too scared to try last year, this year,
even when there was some speed, mysons were laughing and having so muchfun. It made me very happy to see this.
Although it is typically quite difficult totake four children to a ski resort, withthe help of the volunteer staff and otherkind participants, both my children andI were able to have a great time. I wastouched seeing my children who complain quite easily play without any rest.
I was very nervous and anxious to cometo a retreat with four children. Especiallysince my 3-year-old twins still require a
lot of attention, I was worried that they
will cause a lot of inconvenience towards
those around us. However, at Poka Poka,both the adults and children are always
offering a helping hand and I was able
to participate with much ease. Thankyou so much. I would love to participate
again!

W

hile lost in the daily haste, I am
recollecting how refreshed I felt at
Poka Poka while looking at some photos.
I usually get angry and irritated easily and can be found throwing pointed
words at my family. However, while atPoka Poka, that side of me hardly cameout. This is because there was no need tofeel irritated there. There were only a few
moments where I felt like I had to hide
it. When I remember the days we spentat Poka Poka, the calm feelings of thattime resurface. Surely this is because thevolunteers made us such delicious foodand so kindly watched over the children.
Also because I was blessed with myfamily and it was a joyful retreat so fullof laughter. Thank you to the staff andvolunteers who created this wonderfully
warm atmosphere, you’re all amazing!
Thanks to you all, we had a wonderful
five days. It was my first time participating, but I am very happy I got to meet allof you wonderful people. I was laughing
everyday. Thank you very much.

Iam so happy to have met everyone atPoka Poka. I was so filled with laughter; I could cry tears of joy! To the volunteers and staff that helped my family
during those five days, thank you verymuch for your precious time.

From the very year of the Tohoku
Earthquake, Poka Poka was therefor me. Now, wanting to return the favoreven a little, I help out as a staff. Accepting any families on the premise of having been affected by the nuclear power
plants, I feel at ease sharing my anxiety
about living in Fukushima or about mychildren as they grow up. I freed mentally, as both children and parents areable to play freely in nature. Althoughmany retreats and aids are being cut
off now that it has been six years since
the disaster, I feel strength in knowingthat there are still those who think ofFukushima.

GermanExchange Program
After we received word from Germany’s Heinrich Böll
Foundation that they wanted to invite the youths of Fukushima and Belarus to Germany as part of the European
Action Week’s “The Future post Fukushima and Chernobyl”, we called upon the many participants of the Poka
Poka Project to find five students to go to Germany. The
five students prepared for the exchange through orientation and a study retreat in the months leading up to theexchange. Finally, between April 21st and May 2nd, thestudents visited Rendsburg in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany to learn about Chernobyl and Fukushimawith German high school students as well as participate infield trips to renewable energy power plants.

I

went to Germany and learned many things. During my experience there, I especially felt that Japan does not teach thedangers of radiation and the amount of damage the nuclear
accident caused. People in Germany learn about radiation andits dangers in class at school. I feel that Japan needs to teach thedangers of radiation and the current condition of those whowork with radiation comprehensively and accurately.

How interested are Japanese people in its social problems?
I was unable to express myself well when my German
host family and school friends asked me about my own thoughts
and opinions. Politics, economy, my future, nuclear power… they
asked me about a variety of topics but I did not have any personal thoughts on what I want to do or in what way.
It made me realize that until then, I did not have muchinterest in Japanese social problems and as a result, had given itvery little thought. This experience was very embarrassing andfrustrating for me.
There are very few opportunities to talk about social issues
with friends and family when living in Japan. I hope that morepeople who live in Japan also develop an interest in social issues
and instead of thinking “someone will do something about it”,
they will start thinking “I will do something about it”.

Origins of theProject andOur Efforts
Until Now
From immediately after the nuclear power
plant accident in Fukushima, FoE Japan rejected
the 20mSv evacuation standard that was adopted
and have worked to create a “Selective Evacuation Area” in which those in the area of public
exposure of 1mSv a year are given aid regardless ofwhether they chose to stay or evacuate. However,the Japanese government has refused to change
their stance that “evacuation is unnecessary inareas with exposure of 20mSv or less a year” andas a result, many of those want to evacuate but
cannot for various reasons were left behind. As
a response to these circumstances, FoE Japan, in
cooperation with other organizations, launched aweekend retreat program called “Fukushima Poka
Poka Project” in January, 2012.
From April 2013, we moved the retreat from
Tsuchiyu Onsen to Inawashiro and expanded thetarget to residents of all of Fukushima prefecture.
Now, we offer 10 to 12 sessions a year including
weekend treats in Inawashiro and longer retreatsin the spring and summer in Minamiboso, Chiba.
The total number of participants from 2013 hasreached 780 people. Starting in January 2015, FoE
Japan has taken over the lease of the former pension in Inawashiro renaming it the “Poka PokaHouse” and also renting it out to be used as aplace for other organizations to host their retreatprograms.
Today, children who participated in the Poka
Poka Project as children have returned as highschool student volunteers. In April 2016, highschool students participated in an exchange withGerman and Belarusian students in Germany
making Poka Poka a place for children to acquire
the “power to live” and broaden their horizons.
Poka Poka Project Blog: http://ameblo.jp/pokapro/

Fukushima Poka Poka Project | 2016 Report

7Schedule(April 2017 toMarch 2018)29-30 April 2017 (Inawashiro)
3-7 May 2017 (Inawashiro)
10-11 June 2017 (Inawashiro)
15-17 July 2017 (Inawashiro)
11-17 August 2017 (Minami-boso)

16-18 September 2017 (Inawashiro)
18-19 November 2017 (Inawashiro)
5-8 January 2018 (Inawashiro)
24-26 March 2018 (Inawashiro)

We greatly welcome overseas organizations with a desire to host refreshment programs abroad. Althoughmany citizen groups in Japan offer camps for children in Fukushima, many children are unable to take partdue to the lack of opportunities. If you or your organization is interested in offering such camps, retreats, orexchange programs for children in Fukushima, please contact us.

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Name of Accountholder FoE Japan

FoE JapanBranch Mejiro BranchBank address 3-13-6, Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Japan otanda-branchG2 -2-3, Gotanda Hata Bldg 3F, Higashi-

Postal code 171-0031

Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan
141-0022

Bank accountnumber 641-3932089

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SWIFT code BOTKJPJTCITI JPJT

*After depositing your donation, send (1) your name, (2) address, (3) the amount of your donation, and (4)your message to info@foejapan.org
Fukushima Poka Poka Project Office: International Environmental NGO FoE Japan
1-21-9 Komone, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0037 info@foejapan.org
Poka Poka Project Blog: http://ameblo.jp/pokapro/