• 理事長　ご挨拶
  Message from the Chair

With the conclusion of this year’s General Assembly, we are pleased to welcome one new board member and one new auditor to our organization.

 

We are living in a time when the power of words sometimes seems to be losing its effect. Yet through our dialogue activities and conversations with those involved in Fukushima’s recovery, we are ever more convinced that building a sustainable future requires a society that is moved and shaped by dialogue.

 

Over the course of our two-year term, the board will work together to aim for further progress and development. As a new initiative, we are also planning to launch a crowdfunding campaign this fall. We will share more details as soon as they are finalized. We sincerely appreciate your continued support.

 

Ryoko Ando 

Chair, Fukushima Dialogue NPO 

• 2025年総会のご報告

On June 1, 2025, the NPO Fukushima Dialogue held its annual General Assembly in the meeting room at Yamakiya, Kawamata Town, Fukushima Prefecture, as well as online via Teams. All agenda items were approved, and under the renewed structure and policies, we will continue our activities for this fiscal year. Below is a summary of the main decisions: 

 

[1] Activity and Financial Report for FY2024 
Details of our activities and financial results have been published on our official website. Please refer to the following link. 

 

[2] Revision of Membership Categories (Effective June 15)
We have revised the membership fee structure and introduced a new category of member. The updated membership types and annual fees are as follows:

[3] Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and New System
With the expansion of our activities, we have significantly revised the descriptions of our "Objectives" and "Business Activities."

In addition, we have created an honorary membership category for individuals who have made a significant contribution to the non-profit organization. This distinction must be unanimously approved by the Board of Directors.

 

[4] FY2025 Activity Plan and Budget 
This year’s core activity will be a Dialogue event scheduled for December 6–7 in Ōkuma Town. We will also launch a new research project commissioned by the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI). 

 

Our ongoing collaborations will include continued partnership with OpenRadiation, support for the Hamadōri training program at Osaka University, and strengthened ties with international organizations such as ANCCLI, ASNR, and ICRP. 

 

[5] New Executive Board (Term: From June 26, 2025, for two years) 

President: Ryoko Ando (reappointed) 

Vice President: Yumiko Kanai (reappointed) 

Board Members: Takahiro Hanzawa (reappointed), Masahiko Nagaoka (new), Jacques Lochard (reappointed) 

Auditors: Eiji Hiraoka (reappointed), Akihiko Kondo (new) 

 

This year as well, we are committed to listening to the voices of local communities and expanding our activities centered on dialogue, together with diverse networks both within and outside Fukushima, and both in Japan and abroad. 

 

We sincerely appreciate your continued support and cooperation. 

• 名誉会員　選出について

 

理事監事の任期満了にともない、今期で退任をすることになった遠藤眞也さん（理事）と仁志田昇司さん（監事）を名誉会員に選出することを理事会で決定しました。  

Upon the expiration of their terms of office, Mr. Shinya Endo (Board Member) and Mr. Shoji Nishida (Auditor) have stepped down from their respective positions. The Board of Directors has decided to appoint them both as Honorary Members in recognition of their long-standing contributions.

Mr. Shinya Endo launched the activities of Suetsugi, Our Home Town in the aftermath of the nuclear accident in Suetsugi, Iwaki City, where he helped create community-based radiation monitoring maps. From the early days of the ICRP Dialogue—the predecessor to the Fukushima Dialogue—he consistently participated in dialogue activities. He personally embodied the process through which affected residents, suddenly confronted with the reality of radiation, came to confront and manage the situation by acquiring the tools of measurement. In his own words, it was about “taming” radiation. Through his work with Fukushima Dialogue, he has consistently shown the importance of helping affected people reclaim their pride and livelihoods, while building strong networks of collaboration. 

Mr. Shoji Nishida, who served as Mayor of Date City, also recognized the significance of the ICRP Dialogue from the outset and offered strong support. After the transition of operations to Fukushima Dialogue, he readily accepted the role of auditor and provided valuable advice from time to time. He repeatedly expressed his conviction that dialogue spaces such as ours are essential, and that continuing this work is of critical importance for the future of Fukushima. In a region where conservatism can often prevail, Mr. Nishida was a rare and powerful advocate for open, inclusive spaces. His wide-ranging perspective and advice were a tremendous source of support during the early years of our organization. 

今後は、お二人には、名誉会員として福島ダイアログの運営へのご協力と叱咤激励をいただきます。引き続き、どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 

 

※HPにも掲載しました。こちらから

Moving forward, we look forward to Mr. Endo and Mr. Nishida’s continued involvement as Honorary Members, offering their support and candid encouragement to Fukushima Dialogue. 

We thank them both and look forward to their continued engagement. 

 

※HP Link

• 第27回ダイアログのプログラム概要　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　27th Fukushima Dialogue - Program Overview　

 

On Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7, we will host the 27th Fukushima Dialogue under the tentative title: 

Impressions of Hometown – Voices from Fukushima Residents: Where do we come 

from, and where are we going?

 

As we mark 15 years since the nuclear accident, there are questions we feel must be revisited. 
What kinds of impacts did evacuation have on individuals and communities? 
At the same time, more people have relocated to live in Fukushima, and their numbers continue to grow. 
There are also those who evacuated and have since settled elsewhere, as well as younger generations who have little memory of the disaster. 
This Dialogue aims to re-examine the meaning of furusato—one’s hometown or place of belonging—through these diverse perspectives. 

 

The current plan for Day 1 includes a trail walk along the Hamakaidō Trail, where participants will measure radiation levels along the route. 
To deepen understanding of the current situation in Fukushima, participants will use OpenRadiation measuring devices and take measurements during rest stops. 
As they walk, they will compare how radiation levels vary depending on elevation and soil types—while also enjoying the experience of walking together. 

Day 2 will take place at a venue in Futaba District. As in previous Dialogues, the day will begin with presentations sharing updates and realities on the ground, followed by in-depth discussions. 

 

What does furusato mean to you? 
Is it a place full of warm memories? Or is it something you are still searching for? 
We invite you to reflect on this question with us. 

Audience participation is free of charge, and we warmly welcome you to join us at the venue. 

The event will also be streamed via Zoom, so you can attend from home or wherever you are. 

Please note that participation in the trail walk on Day 1 requires advance registration. 

 

Further details will be shared on our official website and in future editions of this newsletter as they become available. 

• 概念とことばの意味を知る-当NPOのバリュー（行動理念）について

特定非営利活動法人福島ダイアログは、東京電力福島第一原子力発電所事故により被災した人々の生活環境の改善を目的として対話と協働を推進する、日本を拠点として運営する非営利法人です。  

当法人は、以下の目的を果たすために、福島に住む人々と日本国内外のステークホルダーとの対話を構築します。  

 

・経験と知識の共有  

・測定活動の人びとの関与を通じて、実践的な放射線防護文化を育てる  

・福島での持続可能で尊厳ある生活・労働環境を確かなものとする地域プロジェクトの実施  

 

  私たちの活動は、市民参加とエンパワーメント、良識ある社会的価値観、過去の経験、そして科学技術知の進展に配慮しながら進めていきます。  

当法人の活動は、以下の倫理的行動理念に基づいて行います。  

私たちは福島原発事故の影響を受けた地域において、

ひとりひとりの幸福（Well-being）と地域社会の生活の質の向上に全力を尽くします。 

思慮深く、公正に、そしてすべての人の尊厳を大切にしながら、

人々を放射線のリスクから守り、福島の未来をともに築いていきます。 

 

私たちは、丁寧に思いやりをもって他者の意見に耳を傾けます。 

たとえ意見が異なる場合でも、

相互の理解と尊重を土台にした前向きな関係を築くことを大切にします。 

 

私たちは、政府や産業界から独立した立場を守り、

私たちのミッションを果たすために、 自律的に活動します。 

 

私たちは、県内在住者、日本全国の人々、地元のリーダー、専門家、行政関係者、

国内外の支援者など、志を持つすべての人々との対話を大切にし、

ともに未来を切り拓く協力関係を築いていきます。 

The NPO Fukushima Dialogue is a charity registered and operating in Japan to improve the living conditions of affected people by the Fukushima accident by promoting dialogue and cooperation. 

The NPO establishes dialogues with Fukushima residents and other Japanese and foreign stakeholders to share experience and knowledge, to engage people in measurements to develop practical radiological protection culture and to implement local projects to ensure decent and sustainable living and working conditions in the Prefecture. 

This is done considering citizens participation and empowerment, sound societal, experience and advances in scientific and technological knowledge. 

 The fundamental operational values ​​that drive the association are summarized as follows: 

Committed to individual well-being and quality of community life in the areas affected by the nuclear accident at Fukushima, relying on prudence, justice and dignity to protect people against radiation and promote the future of the Fukushima region.  

 

Respect for the views of others by showing courtesy and consideration and in so doing, creating the foundation for positive relationships built on mutual appreciation and understanding, even when disagreeing with another’s opinions.  

 

Autonomy in the achievement of its mission, independent of government and industry.  

 

Accountable and transparent in its governance and its activities.  

 

Inclusive by promoting dialogue and future-proof cooperation between all people of goodwill, including residents of the Prefecture, Japanese citizens, local leaders, experts, and authorities, as well as national and international supporters.  

• 書籍紹介-馬場靖子『あの日あのとき』

Following our previous feature, we would like to introduce another photo collection. That Day, That Moment: An Album of Our Hometown, Namie Town – Tsushima is a compilation of photographs taken and curated by Ms. Yasuko Baba, who was living in the Tsushima district of Namie Town at the time of the 2011 nuclear accident.  What makes this photo book distinct from others is its abundance of scenes depicting everyday life in Tsushima before the disaster. While the Tsushima district is now widely recognized as a symbol of tragedy—still designated as an evacuation zone—the photos here reveal the beauty and vibrancy of the community that once was.  We often hear the phrases “loss of community” or “loss of one’s hometown,” but in truth, few of us can clearly picture what such loss entails. The images in this collection—the landscapes of daily life and the expressions of the people of Tsushima—convey the meaning of home and community with striking clarity. More than anything, the beauty captured in these photographs is deeply moving.  This is a collection that powerfully reminds us of the joyful, beautiful Tsushima that undeniably existed before the disaster. 

☆おすすめスポット☆

波立薬師（いわき市）：海のすぐそばにある寺。朱塗りの橋と紫陽花のコントラストが印象的で、梅雨時の撮影にもぴったりです。 

☆情報リンク☆ 

福島市観光協会：https://www.f-kankou.jp/ 

いわき市観光サイト：https://kankou-iwaki.or.jp/ 

ウェザーニュースあじさい情報：https://weathernews.jp/ajisai/ 

With the arrival of the rainy season, hydrangeas gently brighten our surroundings with their serene beauty. 
This year, some may find themselves asking, “Where is the rainy season?” as we face an unusual stretch of hot and dry days. 
Yet, just catching sight of hydrangeas somehow brings a refreshing coolness to the heart—and even the body. 

Right now, across Fukushima Prefecture, there are many charming places where hydrangeas are in full bloom, unique to this season. 
In this edition, we introduce several “Ajisai Temples” and hydrangea viewing spots that will remain at their best through early to mid-July. 

 

☆Useful Links☆

・Fukushima City Tourism Association: https://www.f-kankou.jp/ 

・Iwaki City Tourism Portal: https://kankou-iwaki.or.jp/ 

・Weather News – Hydrangea Bloom Map: https://weathernews.jp/ajisai/  

• ご寄付・ご入会募集中
• Call for Donation and Recruiting Members for the NPO

継続的な活動を行なっていくために会員への入会と寄付を募集中です。福島県在住の方は、年会費3,000円で当団体にご入会いただけます。また、学生の方は年会費1,000円でご入会いただけます。 
賛助会員は活動に参加しなくとも会費だけ、気が向いた時の参加だけでも大丈夫です。現在は、月に１度のオンライン定例会に加えて、ダイアログの開催準備、Openradiationによる測定プロジェクト、海外の組織（主にフランス）との交流活動を行っています。
ご参加、ご協力お待ちしています。

We are looking for participants and collaborators to strengthen our activities. Fukushima residents can now join our association for a modest fee of 3,000 yen per year, and students can join for an annual fee of only 1,000 yen. 
Additionally, supporting members are welcome to contribute just the membership fee or participate in activities whenever you feel like it. We also welcome donations to support our ongoing activities! Join us!

Currently, in addition to the regular monthly online meetings, the organization of dialogues, measurement projects with OpenRadiation and exchange activities with foreign organisations (mainly in France) are taking place.