A well-known skating rink in Kawamata, Fukushima Prefecture, that closed after the triple core meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant in 2011 will reopen in January, giving a shot in the arm to the disaster-stricken area.

The open-air rink in the Yamakiya district was evacuated to protect residents from the radiation spewed out by the ruined atomic plant. In August 2013, however, the majority of the district was redesignated as ready to have the evacuation order lifted.

Since that might happen as early as next spring, the Kawamata Skating Club announced on Oct. 7 that it was finally planning to reopen the rink in January.