Newspaper: Japanese evacuating country because of radiation — “Passport issuance growing sharply” — “Increase is attracting attention”
By ENENews
November 21st, 2012
Title: Quake, nuke, economy fears chase Japanese overseas
Source: The Australian
Author: Rick Wallace
Date: Nov 21, 2012
h/t Anonymous tip
New figures reveal the number of Japanese leaving their homeland for a life abroad has more than tripled in the wake of last year’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident. […]
Next year the number is likely to climb further, as travel industry research indicates passport issuance is growing sharply.
Worries about radiation, predictions of another devastating quake and diminishing opportunities in Japan’s economically depressed and rapidly ageing society are driving young families and singles and wealthy retirees abroad.
In insular and conservative Japan, this increase is attracting attention. […]
Foreigners tended to assume Japan had bounced back from the triple disaster, and in some areas that was true. But many Japanese now had, for the first time, a deep distrust of their government. […]
An anonymous Japanese woman wants to leave because of the danger of radiation from the Fukushima disaster and the prospect of another quake
She declined to give her name, citing the risk of discrimination among her peer group about her “abandoning” her home country
“I can’t talk about my desire to move because rumours will just spread around so easily”
“And we can’t openly talk about the nuclear disaster – just among close friends really”
“But I have started taking action and if it goes smoothly we will be leaving”
