A story of 93-year-old lady in Fukushima and her suicide notes. (July 9th, 2011.

Mainichi Newspaper) In late June, a 93-year-old lady who lived in Minami-Souma city, Fukushima, committed suicide. She grew up and was living in the city, in the middle of rice field which came down from her familys ancestors, with her son and his family. On the March 17th, after a series of explosions of Fukushima reactors, they evacuated from the home, which is 22km away from the plant, to her daughters house in Souma city, Fukushima. She stayed there because of health concerns, after sons family evacuated to a place outside Fukushima. During late April, she was hospitalized twice. She wanted to go back home, and on the May 3rd, she finally went back home by herself alone. Every time sons family called her, she asked them to come back and live with her. On the June 6th, her sons family moved back home. The lady welcomed them although their arrival was midnight. She looked so happy. Since the Minami-Souma area is part of evacuation preparation area, they need to leave if something happens at the Fukushima plant. The son and his wife told the lady that they might need to evaluate again. If so, we should go together. The lady didnt give a clear comment to that. Mother might fret over her life and future, son told. Two weeks after they got back together at home of Minami-Souma city, she committed suicide. They found four suicide notes, addressed to her family, her ancestors, and neighborhood friends. To her family, she wrote, I feel so terrified of whats going to happen at the plant. To her parents, she apologized, I know that I disgraced my whole family, children, and grandchildren by doing this, but I dont have any other way under this circumstance (in Japanese, literally she wrote, in the current society). A friend to whom the lady wrote a suicide note said, in front of a picture of the lady smiling, Why did she have to do this. She enjoyed longevity which everyone should celebrate for her, with her. The Buddhism monk showed empathy, saying Evacuation is very difficult thing to do for the elderly. Some feel depressed just because they see a different ceiling when they wake up. The ladys son and wife said to the reporter, at the end of the interview. Please convey to the society reasons why she killed herself. -- Her suicide note -The 3.11 earthquake and tsunami was horrible. But, due to the nuclear plant accident, we

got an evacuation order, and my family had to move to Gumma prefecture. Since I have a daughter in Souma city, I evacuated there on the March 18th. I was there for about two months, but I was hospitalized during the time. On the May 3rd, I went back home. I was there alone for about one month. I watched TV every day, and it seems like they dont know when the plants situation will get better. If we have to evacuate again, elderly people (i.e., herself) would be a burden. I felt relieved when my family came back home on the June 6th. Everyone talks about the Fukushima, and I feel terrified. There is no other way for me (except committing suicide). Sayounara (a polite good bye in Japanese). I am going to evacuate to the grave. (Japanese graves are for family, not for individual. She will go into her familys grave after cremation). I apologize for this (i.e., possible troubles and shame by her suicide).