25-year-old Takuya Haraguchi is doing something not many have attempted yet. He is trying to grow kiwi fruits in the Fukushima region of Japan with his company, ReFruits. 14 years after a nuclear accident in the area changed everything, Takuya is starting afresh on the former no-go zone.
The impact of the Fukushima nuclear accident on fruit farming
In March 2011, a tsunami triggered by an earthquake led to leakages in a nuclear power plant in Fukushima. While many were evacuated, that incident changed the condition of the region. Concerns about radiation poisoning halted farming. Residents of the region moved away. Fearing contamination, no one wanted to grow anything there or eat anything grown there, for years.
Why Takuya decided to grow kiwis in Fukushima
The interesting part is, Takuya didn't even grow up in Fukushima, and is actually from Osaka. He studied software engineering and first visited the rural region of Okuma in 2021. But his dream of being a fruit farmer, and desire to help the people of this region, are what drove him down this path.
But it wasn’t an overnight call made on a whim. He did his homework before starting his business. He met a seasoned farmer who used to grow delicious kiwis in the area before the disaster. He also came to Okuma for research several times before starting ReFruits with his business partner. Together, they manage six acres of land and aim to harvest their first kiwis next year.
Are fruits from Fukushima safe?
Why did Takuya decide growing fruits in Fukushima was a good idea? For one thing, it was because the government of Japan did extensive decontamination work in the region. An entire layer of farmland soil was stripped. Not only that, but food from Fukushima was deemed safe by authorities only after it was rigorously screened for radiation. Today, there are consumers in Japan who choose to buy produce from the region to support struggling farmers.
Fukushima’s famous fruits and fresh produce
Fukushima is so famous for its sweet and juicy fruits, that it has long been called the 'Fruit Kingdom’, with a street within Fukushima city called “Fruit Line.” Known for its delicious cherries, peaches, grapes, pears, and apples, Fukushima is also a hub for farming many other kinds of produce, be it rice, fish, or tomatoes.
This farming culture, especially fruit farming that was once synonymous with the region, is what Takuya is trying to revive. It seems he isn’t alone though, because Fukushima peaches were sold at London's luxe department store, Harrods, last year. Clearly, Fukushima is back in the game!
Gen Z’s commitment to social service
Like many Gen Z men and women trying to live a socially-conscious life -- be it activists like Greta Thunberg and Licypriya Kangujam, or celebrities who are intersectional feminists, like Amandla Stenberg or Rowan Blanchard -- Takura is undertaking initiatives to help other people. His mission of bolstering the farming community in the rural town of Okuma is a testament to his empathy for those who suffered after the Fukushima power plant incident.
It’s interesting how, like Takuya, many Gen Z and millennials are trying to solve problems that technically aren’t theirs, or didn’t happen in their immediate surroundings. Whether that’s because globalisation has made the world a smaller place, or because the internet has made us feel more connected to others, the fact is, Gen Z and millennials are at the forefront of mobilising others to take note of what is happening in the world, and do something about it.
That's probably why, even though most of this region's previous residents haven't returned since the disaster, there are many outsiders who have moved there. Now, out of the 1,500-odd people living in Okuma, more than 1,000 are newcomers. Of course, factors like government subsidies for things like housing and business assistance are also big reasons for this.
What’s interesting, is that while he wants to promote agriculture in the area and help rebuild the community, he’s not shoving the idea down anyone’s throat: “We don't need to force our products on people who are uneasy about this place and its crops.” Isn’t that the ‘live and let live’ mantra that perfectly captures the vibe Gen Z has?
With inputs from AFP
