The Radioactive Man who returned to Fukushima to Look after the Animals that everyone else left behind<br />
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The untold human suffering and property damage left in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in Japan has been well-documented, but there’s another population that suffered greatly that few have discussed – the animals left behind in the radioactive exclusion zone. One man, however, hasn’t forgotten – 55-year-old Naoto Matsumura, a former construction worker who lives in the zone to care for its four-legged survivors.<br />
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He is known as the ‘guardian of Fukushima’s animals’ because of the work he does to feed the animals left behind by people in their rush to evacuate the government’s 12.5-mile exclusion zone. He is aware of the radiation he is subject to on a daily basis, but says that he “refuses to worry about it.” He does take steps, however, by only eating food imported into the zone.<br />
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Mr matsumura went on to say, " I can't imagine what's going to happen to me next, but I believe it's my battle to stay here.<br />
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Currently I catch cows roaming around the town and contain them at my ranch I built by my home. I also try to prevent from breeding by having bulls castrated. And I'd like to watch over these animals until they naturally die.<br />
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It is livestock, but I think we are allowed to kill them only when we eat them. I can't put up with cows getting killed just because they were contaminated. They have life just like ours"<br />
©Naoto Matsumura/Exclusivepix Media