Photo/Illutration Shiro Izawa, the sole mayoral candidate of Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture, addresses voters in the town on Jan. 16. (Yukiko Sakamoto)

FUTABA, Fukushima Prefecture—The mayoral and municipal assembly elections began on Jan. 16 in this depleted town, a co-host of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

Although evacuation orders were lifted in some parts of Futaba in August 2022, only about 180, or 3 percent, of the 5,300 registered residents have returned to their homes in the town.

Fourteen years after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, which caused the triple meltdown at the plant, evacuees from Futaba are dispersed across the country and even abroad.

The situation is presenting a unique challenge for campaigners trying to reach voters.

Nine candidates running for assembly seats are uncertain about where to start their campaigns.

A significant number of evacuees live in Iwaki, 50 kilometers south, where around 2,000 of them settled in temporary public housing after the 2011 disaster.

However, many of them have since moved from the public housing, making it difficult for candidates to identify locations to hold rallies.

This is particularly challenging given that Japan’s election law prohibits candidates from visiting voters at their homes.

“I’ll campaign by traveling within Futaba, as some evacuees commute to the town for work,” said one candidate. “I will also make phone calls to voters.”

NO LOCAL CONNECTION

The mayoral race is uncontested, with incumbent Shiro Izawa, 66, as the sole candidate.

After declaring his victory for a fourth term as mayor, Izawa acknowledged the difficult realities many town residents face.

“There are people who want to return but cannot. The situation is tough, but I will tackle each issue one by one,” he said.

Despite his unchallenged victory, Izawa still traveled to Iwaki on Jan. 16, laying out his policies to a group of 10 voters gathered outside the public housing.

“As many have left the public housing here, we don’t know where the voters are,” said a senior member of Izawa’s campaign.

Many of those living in the public housing now have no connection to Futaba, and Izawa said he felt out of place and hesitated to campaign there.

VOTING FROM SAITAMA

To support displaced voters, the town has set up three polling stations within Fukushima Prefecture, as well as an additional one in Kazo, Saitama Prefecture.

Saitama Prefecture is home to the largest number of Futaba evacuees, around 700, outside of Fukushima Prefecture.

Early voting will be available at nine locations across the prefecture and beyond, and ballots by mail will also be accepted. The election period has also been extended to 10 days, double the usual length.

GROWING APATHY

Despite these efforts, participation in local elections has been on the decline since the nuclear disaster, undermining the foundation of local politics and democracy.

Voter turnout for the Futaba assembly election in 2021 dropped to just 47 percent, down from 81 percent in 2007, before the disaster.

“The number of participants in the town hall meetings held in relocation areas has decreased each year,” said a current assembly member. “There is a growing sense of apathy toward town governance.”

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