IITATE, Fukushima Prefecture -- Autumn is normally harvest time for folks in this village, located in a major rice-producing region. But this is not a normal year and things are a little different.
The entire population of this village, located roughly 30-40 km to the northwest of the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, has evacuated to remain far from the radioactive fallout. And while there is no harvest to reap, five villagers, however, returned on Oct. 1 to mow grass on fallow rice paddies to help decontaminate the ground and to prevent fires.
"It would be harvest time in normal years, but we are mowing grass instead of reaping rice," bemoaned a villager who had temporarily returned.
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