Fears of nuclear fallout from the Fukushima disaster are increasing in Japan, where local councils in Tokyo have begun checking schools and parks for radioactive contamination.
Tokyo's metropolitan government has also announced spot checks of fresh and processed foods.
In the playground of the Meguro Honcho Nursery School, young children play in the dirt as officials test it for radiation from Fukushima.
"There is no solution here," said principal Michiko Ikeda, who has been hovering over a Geiger counter writing down readings.
"We cannot say this is absolutely safe. Parents are worried about radiation, our staff too.
"By taking these radiation measurements, we want to show that we care for the children."
Hiroshi Sato, from the local Meguro council, is also at the school to help test for radiation.
"Recently it became clear that radiation came further south than we thought, all the way to Tokyo," he said.
"So we are now checking dozens of schools in the Meguro area."
In Tokyo, protesters marched past the offices of Fukushima's owners TEPCO to demand protection for their children.
Among the marchers was mother-of-two Naomi Sasaki, who said she was angry at TEPCO for its handling of the disaster.
"They hid reality, and the radioactive contamination is worse than we're being told," she said.
"I've learnt that only I can protect my children. So I've bought a Geiger counter. But I'm thinking of leaving Tokyo with my kids."
These demonstrations are becoming more common in Tokyo, as is the sight of people wielding Geiger counters.
Back at the Meguro Honcho Nursery School, the playground has been given the all clear, but principal Michiko Ikeda says the search for radioactive hot spots will go on.
"I still worry when it rains," she said.
"I worry about it a lot. After it rains we wash all the outside equipment and toys and we clean out the drains to reduce the radiation level," she said.
But in the playground the kids are oblivious to all this - all they want to do is to continue to delight in the dirt.
發表於 
返回列表
