Migration behaviors and place-based recovery after the Fukushima disaster: A comparative study of current residents, regular visitors, and non-visitors

Following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, residents in the heavily affected towns of Tomioka, Okuma, and Futaba were subject to mandatory evacuation. Over a decade later, migration behavior has diverged, with some residents returning, some visiting regularly, and others not returning at all. This study examined the sociocultural and psychosocial factors associated with migration behaviors in the recovery context after the Fukushima disaster. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 1862 individuals registered in the three towns as of 2024. Participants were classified as current residents (both returnees and new settlers), regular visitors, or non-visitors. The results indicated that being a current resident was positively associated with male gender, better physical health (physical component summary score), and willingness to interact with other residents. Conversely, older age (≥ 65 years), cohabiting with family, and anxiety over radiation-related genetic effects were negatively associated with living in the three towns. Regular visit behavior was linked to emotional and cultural motivations—particularly ancestral grave and land management. These findings highlight the interplay between physical capabilities, cultural responsibility, and risk perceptions among post-disaster migrants and suggest that recovery policies should focus on not only physical reconstruction, but also psychosocial needs. • Migration patterns after the Fukushima disaster showed three distinct behavioral types. • Regular visitors report significantly better physical health than non-visitors. • No significant difference in mental health across migration behavior groups. • Regular visits are motivated by land or grave management and local economic ties.