Greetings 

Nice to meet you. We are the Fukushima Dialogue, a certified non-profit organization (NPO) based in Fukushima Prefecture, established in 2019 to, among other activities, continue the series of dialogue meetings initiated by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in 2011.

Now in our sixth year as an NPO, we continue to expand our efforts with the support of our members, including the organization of dialogues, the exchanges with different organisations, the facilitation of local activities such as citizen environmental monitoring, in cooperation with universities and expert institutes in Japan and abroad.

Dialogue events are two-day programs held once a year in Fukushima Prefecture, where local residents, administrative officials, experienced organizations and individuals, and national and international experts gather to discuss recovery from the nuclear accident. Since the autumn of 2011, 26 such events have been held; this year will mark the 27th.

Given the international interest, each Dialogue is streamed live via Zoom with simultaneous interpretation in English and Japanese. Interpretation costs are the most significant part of our budget but is crucial for ensuring high-quality dialogue. As the Dialogue is held on weekends to accommodate those living far away or with weekday commitments, we provide a safe space with professional babysitters so that both parents and children can participate to the Dialogue meeting with peace of mind.

We are launching this crowdfunding campaign to make such inclusive and multilingual dialogues possible and to continue communicating the reality of Fukushima with fairness and transparency.

Social Issue Addressed at Upcoming Dialogue Meetings

Fourteen years after the nuclear accident, the recovery context in Fukushima has become increasingly complex. Disparities have emerged between regions and individuals, and these differences are increasingly difficult to share and discuss.

The release of radioactive material has had significant impacts not only on individuals but also on entire communities in Fukushima. Particularly in areas subject to prolonged evacuation, long-term challenges related to radioactivity and resettlement remain.

Although decontamination efforts by national and local governments have alleviated concerns in some areas, these concerns cannot be completely ignored. In rural or mountainous areas, or those that experienced prolonged evacuation, changes in land use and community structures have profoundly affected residents' sense of identity and well-being.

Furthermore, awareness-raising among affected residents remains insufficient. Through carefully crafted dialogues, taking into account each community's unique context, we aim to share local realities and challenges, including lingering concerns about radioactivity, and move forward together toward recovery.

Today, new issues are emerging. While measures such as relocation policies are revitalizing the region, concerns about radiation continue to be expressed in subtle and unspoken ways. Some do not know how to express their unease or who to turn to. These voices, though small and important, risk being drowned out by broader discussions about regional revitalization.

Through the Dialogues, we aim to amplify these voices, foster shared understanding, and explore paths forward together.

What We Hope to Achieve 

Building on over a decade of experience, we want to continue listening to the diverse voices of Fukushima and ask fundamental questions:

“What was the real impact of Fukushima?”

“What does recovery mean?”

“What lies beyond recovery?”

We want to provide a forum where residents — whether returning evacuees, long-time locals, or newcomers — can speak about their sense of "hometown" and explore what it means to live well together in today’s Fukushima.

To do this, we will hold the 27th Fukushima Dialogue on December 6 and 7, 2025, in Ōkuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture (See tentative program in Annex).

Tentative Program 

Please check it below. the link below.

Budget 

The funds raised will be used for the following purposes:

- Simultaneous interpretation (2 days): approx. 600,000JPY

- Babysitting services (2 days): approx. 100,000JPY

- Accommodation for distant participants and staff: approx. 200,000JPY

- Publicity and outreach: approx. 100,000JPY

**Total: 1,000,000JPY**

-If we exceed the goal, the surplus funds will be transparently and properly managed and used for the operating costs of the NPO and for future activities, such as organizing small-scale, closed-format Mini Dialogues planned for the coming years.

Schedule 

The preparation schedule for the project is as follows.

If there are any major changes, we will inform you through our activity reports.

• September 15, 2025: Launch of the crowdfunding campaign!

• November 15, 2025: End of the crowdfunding campaign!

• December 6–7, 2025: 27th Dialogue meeting

• March 2026: Publication of the report on the use of fundsp

For All Potential Donors

To achieve the above budget all contributions between 3,000 yen (about 17 euros and 20 US dollars) and 100,000 yen (about 580 euros and 675 US dollars), or even more, are welcome. Upon request, your name (nickname acceptable) or company name (text only, company banners not accepted) will be listed on our NPO website for one year starting from December 1, 2025. Donation amounts will not be disclosed.

In Closing 

Fourteen years after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, there is no single vision of "recovery." Each person’s experience and hopes are different. Without listening to diverse voices, we cannot grasp how lives and communities have changed — or how they will continue to evolve. To ensure these stories are not lost to history, we have kept the Fukushima Dialogue at the heart of our mission.

Our work has only been possible thanks to the continued support of many like-minded individuals. To everyone who has arrived here, to those who care about Fukushima’s future Would you consider lending your support to make the 27th Fukushima Dialogue a meaningful and inclusive gathering? Let us look toward the future of Fukushima together.

We sincerely ask for your warm support.

About Us 

Our roots trace back to the early days after the 2011 disaster. Our Chair, Ryoko Ando, herself a resident of Fukushima, started to develop actions with a heartfelt desire to “gain the strength to help others.”

In 2019, we became an incorporated NPO. We remain a small organization with about a few dozen members, many of whom first encountered the Dialogue as participants or listeners and later joined as collaborators.

Through our work, we have built meaningful partnerships with international organizations such as ICRP and IRSN (now ASNR). We’ve also strengthened our bonds with local organizations and empowered residents and stakeholders to play a central role in recovery — not leaving it solely to government or experts, but fostering community-led efforts.

Please find here attached a leaflet presenting the NPO and we encourage you to consult our webs. our webs