About 165,000 people in Fukushima Prefecture were forced to relocate after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami due to damage to buildings and homes as well as concerns over the fallout from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear disaster.
Although the number of people still living away from their homes is on the decline, about 36,000 people are still unable to return, and many of them are worried about their bleak prospects, including dying alone.
In a meeting room at a public housing complex in Koriyama, residents were chatting over tea about their health problems and what was on sale at a nearby supermarket.