More than t wo months after the massive earthquake and tsunami hit northeastern Japan, the pace of reconstruction work is gradually picking up. But more than 100,000 people continue to live in harsh conditions at temporary shelters.

Among them are Fukushima Prefecture residents who were forced to flee their residences after the enforcement of a no-entry zone around the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

Stress levels are rising among these people and some feel that they are reaching the limits of their endurance. They have little privacy, few chances to bathe or wash their clothes and cannot even use toilet facilities as frequently as they would like.