![I'm overwhelmed with emotion': Japanese town closed for nine years reopens to residents | The Independent | The Independent I'm overwhelmed with emotion': Japanese town closed for nine years reopens to residents | The Independent | The Independent](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2020/03/04/09/futaba-fukushima-nuclear-town.jpg?width=1200)
I'm overwhelmed with emotion': Japanese town closed for nine years reopens to residents | The Independent | The Independent
![Bicycles are left behind near the train station in the evacuated town of Futaba in Fukushima prefecture September 22, 2013. Decades ago, the citizens of Japan's Futaba town took such pride in Bicycles are left behind near the train station in the evacuated town of Futaba in Fukushima prefecture September 22, 2013. Decades ago, the citizens of Japan's Futaba town took such pride in](https://c8.alamy.com/compfr/2cwr0g4/bicycles-are-left-behind-near-the-train-station-in-the-evacuated-town-of-futaba-in-fukushima-prefecture-september-22-2013-decades-ago-the-citizens-of-japans-futaba-town-took-such-pride-in-hosting-part-of-the-fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-complex-that-they-built-a-sign-over-a-promenade-proclaiming-that-atomic-power-made-their-town-prosperous-now-they-are-scattered-around-japan-with-no-clear-sign-of-when-they-might-return-to-their-homes-a-total-of-160000-people-were-ordered-to-leave-their-homes-around-daiichi-plant-after-the-government-announced-the-evacuation-following-the-nuclear-disaster-2cwr0g4.jpg)
Bicycles are left behind near the train station in the evacuated town of Futaba in Fukushima prefecture September 22, 2013. Decades ago, the citizens of Japan's Futaba town took such pride in
![Infamous Fukushima town sign praising nuclear energy to become permanent museum display - The Mainichi Infamous Fukushima town sign praising nuclear energy to become permanent museum display - The Mainichi](https://cdn.mainichi.jp/vol1/2021/03/20/20210320p2a00m0na005000p/9.jpg?2)
Infamous Fukushima town sign praising nuclear energy to become permanent museum display - The Mainichi
![Town that hosts disaster-hit Fukushima nuclear plant aims to allow daytime access to special zone in 2020 | The Japan Times Town that hosts disaster-hit Fukushima nuclear plant aims to allow daytime access to special zone in 2020 | The Japan Times](https://cdn-japantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/n-fukushima-a-20181214.jpg)
Town that hosts disaster-hit Fukushima nuclear plant aims to allow daytime access to special zone in 2020 | The Japan Times
![Fukushima town ready to lift evacuation order but only 10% of residents wish to return | The Japan Times Fukushima town ready to lift evacuation order but only 10% of residents wish to return | The Japan Times](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/np_file_173132.jpeg)
Fukushima town ready to lift evacuation order but only 10% of residents wish to return | The Japan Times
![A walk through Futaba, the Fukushima town left to time since the 2011 nuclear disaster - The Mainichi A walk through Futaba, the Fukushima town left to time since the 2011 nuclear disaster - The Mainichi](https://cdn.mainichi.jp/vol1/2020/09/10/20200910p2a00m0na012000p/8.jpg?2)
A walk through Futaba, the Fukushima town left to time since the 2011 nuclear disaster - The Mainichi
![Two days in and near Japan's 'nuclear power town,' a decade after the nuclear disaster - Japan Today Two days in and near Japan's 'nuclear power town,' a decade after the nuclear disaster - Japan Today](https://asset.japantoday.com/img/store/a9/96/0971530fb7d2fc2a1a5d9a9674c15c627975/Photo%205.jpg)