About the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas & the Specified Living Areas for Returnees

The Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas

• With the revision of the Act of Special Measures for the Reconstruction and Revitalization of Fukushima (May 2017), it has become possible to designate "Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas", where residence will be permitted subject to the lifting of the evacuation order within the previously designated "Difficult-to-Return Zones", where residence restrictions were expected to remain in place for an extended period. 
• Plans have been developed for the six municipalities of Tomioka Town, Okuma Town, Futaba Town, Namie Town, Katsurao Village and Iitate Village. Decontamination and infrastructure development have been ongoing towards the lifting of evacuation orders.
• Plans were created by the six municipalities of Tomioka Town, Okuma Town, Futaba Town, Namie Town, Katsurao Village, and Iitate Village, and all evacuation orders were lifted as per the following "Lifting Dates for the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas".

      Reconstruction and Revitalization Plans for Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas (Reconstruction Agency homepage)

Lifting Dates for the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas

• Information on area size and the date lifted for each individual municipality is provided here.

The Specified Living Areas for Returnees

• In areas outside of the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas, residents who wished to return to their homes were forced to live as evacuees. In response, the government adopted a policy to prioritise the decontamination of areas necessary to allow residents to return throughout the 2020s, so that those living elsewhere who wished to return home could do so. (Aug. 2021)
• With the revision of the Act on Special Measures for the Reconstruction and Revitalization of Fukushima (June 2023), it has become possible to designate the “Specified Living Areas for Returnees”, which are zones in the Difficult-to-return Zone which are designated separately from the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas, with the aim of allowing residents to return and rebuild their lives after the evacuation orders have been lifted.
• The towns of Okuma, Futaba, Namie, and Tomioka have created plans for the establishment of the Specified Living Areas for Returnees and environmental improvement, and received approval from the Prime Minister. Efforts for reconstruction and revitalization are underway according to those plans.
• For the towns of Okuma and Futaba, decontamination began in December 2023, and for Namie Town, it began in June 2024.

       Plans for Reconstruction and Revitalization of the Specified Living Areas for Returnees (Reconstruction Agency homepage)

Map of Evacuation-Designated Zones and Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas

• As of April 23, 2011, the Evacuation-Designated Zones covered approximately 12% of the prefectural land. Currently, there are areas designated as "Difficult-to-Return Zones" still remaining but their total area has been reduced to around 2.2% of the prefecture.
• The Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas are indicated within Difficult-to-Return Zones in right figure (highlighted as yellow and orange circles).
• For details, please refer to the Reconstruction and Revitalization Plan for the Specified Living Areas for Returnees created by each municipality.

　　Plans for Reconstruction and Revitalization of the Specified Living Areas for Returnees (Reconstruction Agency homepage)

*See here for information on the change in status of evacuation areas, etc. to date → Transition of the evacuation zones -Explanation-　

Development within the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas

On 30 November 2023, an evacuation order for the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas (point and line revitalization base areas) was lifted in Tomioka Town.

• On November 30, 2023, an evacuation order was lifted for the point areas of community centres, communal cemeteries, and the line areas of roads leading to them in the Oragahama and Fukaya districts of Tomioka Town in the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas.
• With this, all the evacuation orders for the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas in the six municipalities within the prefecture have been lifted. 
• The photograph shows the local fire prevention and crime prevention mobilisation ceremony of the prefectural police and fire department and the removal of road barricades. (Photo provided: Tomioka Town) 」

Evacuation order for Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas in Iitate village and "Nagadoro Magata Park" lifted (May 1, 2023)

• On May 1, 2023, the evacuation order was lifted in Iitate village for the Nagadoro district's Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas and Nagadoro Magata Park developed outside of the zones. Pictured is the completion ceremony for the "Nagadoro Community Center".

Lifted Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas in Tomioka Town (April 1, 2023) 

• On April 1, 2023, the evacuation order for theSpecified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas in parts of Yonomori and Osuge districts in Tomioka Town was lifted. The photo shows the commemorative ceremony for the lifting of the evacuation order in Yonomori District and the departure of patrols.

Lifted Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas in Namie Town (March 31, 2023)

• On March 31, 2023, the evacuation order for the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas in parts of Murohara, Suenomori, and Tsushima districts in Namie Town was lifted. The photo shows the evacuation order lifting ceremony held at the Murohara District disaster prevention base.

Started preparatory accommodation in Namie Town (September 1, 2022)

• In preparation for the anticipated lifting of the evacuation order in the spring of 2023, preparatory accommodation has commenced within the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas in Namie Town. The photo shows the opening of barricades to deregulate access restrictions.

Opening Ceremony for New Town Hall in Futaba Town (August 27, 2022)

• On August 30, 2022, the evacuation order for the Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas centred around JR Joban Line Futaba Station in Futaba Town was lifted. After 11 years and 5 months since the nuclear accident, the town, where town-wide evacuation had been in place and was the only one of its kind in the prefecture, became habitable, and all municipalities in the prefecture became habitable.
• The entire town evacuated in 2011, relocated to Kawamata Town, then to Saitama Prefecture and finally to Iwaki City in 2013. Prior to the lifting of the evacuation order, an opening ceremony was held at the new town hall on August 27, 2022. Operations have been conducted in the new town hall since September 5, 2022.