Ms Satsuki Ikeda in Iitoi Village

Ms Satsuki Ikeda’s family has been living in Iitate for nine generations. She ran a farm together with her sons before being evacuated to Fukushima City. Stuck in a relief centre, she could not sleep due to the noise, and was devastated for the loss of her village, her work, and the feeling of growing and preparing her own food.

She sometimes goes back for a day or so, to check and maintain her house, and although the Iitate community has been scattered around several cities they try to meet every two months to talk about the problems they face and how to organise the religious festivals that still play an important role in village life.