Chiba's population is declining for the first time in 66 years as residents in bedroom communities damaged by last March's liquefaction decide to abandon the prefecture, fed up with authorities' failure to repair their homes and fearful of radioactive fallout.
Many of the prefecture's residents are still living in tilted homes, as they can't afford to fix them themselves and financial support from the central and local governments is minimal.
Some residents also are worried about potential radiation exposure, because several hot spots have been detected since the Fukushima nuclear crisis erupted.