Discovery and Revitalization of “Feeling of Hometown” from a Disaster Site Inhabitant's Continuous Engagement in Reconstruction Work: Ethnographic Interviews with a Radiation Decontamination Worker Over 5 Years Following the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident¹

After hometown loss due to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident, many radiation decontamination workers started engage in reconstruction of their hometown. However, little is known regarding meaning experience engaging such work. We describe process through a series ethnographic interviews over 5 years with worker. The was classified into following three periods: “recovery lost land by inhabitants' own hands,” “goal and semiotic trap pursuit recovery,” “revitalization feeling hometown.” Consequently, informant overcame contradiction theorized as “semiotic trap” that for physical recovery would make his return home impossible, updated narrative revitalization “feeling hometown” continuous engagement work creating sense transplacement, which individual focuses on psychological aspects his/her instead aspects. Psychological disaster victims requires discovery rather than completion reconstruction.