Social Capital Recovery in Post-Nuclear Disaster: Perspectives through a Field Course in Fukushima

On 11 March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear accident resulted in several detrimental consequences, including persistent stigmatization of disaster victims, disaster-related anxiety, and loss of trust for government authorities. Through a social capital lens, we aimed to share the perspectives of Fukushima residents who have lived through the post-disaster recovery process. Site visits and discussions with residents and local stakeholders were conducted during an 18-day field course in Fukushima organized by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. We evaluated current social capital recovery efforts using the definitions of bonding, bridging, and linking social capital. Bonding capital was built upon pre-existing cultural identity and ties to the community, sustained by individual community members who invest in the preservation of local traditions. Recovery of bridging capital highlighted the importance of community ownership and participation in local community initiatives. Linking capital was more difficult to rebuild due to mistrust between the residents and government. Implications for nuclear disaster risk reduction include supporting community-based leaders to help with sustainability of recovery efforts and improving accessibility and inclusivity to participating in community initiatives. Timely dissemination of information by the government in the acute phase of disaster is crucial to maintaining trust with the local people. This study concludes that exposure to nuclear radiation remains a concern in risk reduction planning for nuclear disaster, which calls for the need for nuclear disaster specific recovery strategies that focus on social capital and community recovery.