On a side street near a darkened Ikata shopping arcade full of abandoned storefronts, the Sushi Ko restaurant is unusually busy on a weekday.

Balancing a tray full of drinks, Sachiyo Ozaki said most of her restaurant's customers were there because of an industry shunned elsewhere: nuclear power.

"He drives a minivan to take workers to the plant," she said, gesturing toward a man sitting at the counter. Pointing to another man sipping a beer, she added, "And he works in construction, so they've been busy too."