What radiation worries? Some tourists venturing to Fukushima for Golden Week

By Associated Press, Updated: Monday, May 2, 7:04 AM

FUKUSHIMA, Japan — On a windy, chilly day near the top of a volcano known as “little Mount Fuji,” the Ryan family of Florida described the fuss back home before they left.

“People thought we were crazy,” said Kerry Ryan, 52, of Cape Coral, Fla.

“They said we’d come back glowing,” 10-year-old granddaughter Isabelle Ryan added.

But the Ryans, who had never before traveled overseas, decided to stick to the plan. Destination: Fukushima.

The name is now synonymous with the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which lost power and spewed radiation after a massive tsunami devastated Japan’s northeast coast.

The unfortunate association has been a painful economic consequence of the triple disaster for Fukushima prefecture and Fukushima city, located about 40 miles inland from the nuclear plant. Along with the direct economic hit, farmers and businesses face so-called “fuhyo higai,” or damages stemming from the battered reputation of the Fukushima brand.

... Read the full article here: Washington Post Article