Hero #087: Naoto Matsumara … (03/08/16)
The catastrophic events that occurred at Fukushima in March of 2011 marked a dramatic turning point in the life of former rice farmer Naoto Matsumura. The Tōhoku earthquake and its subsequent tsunami knocked out the power supply and cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, causing three of its four reactors to go into meltdown and leak massive amounts of radiation into the surrounding area. The government immediately ordered an emergency evacuation of the local population. As a result, tens of thousands of people hurriedly left their homes. Of course, thinking they would return soon, they also left their companion animals behind. And yet there was to be no returning, and so from that point onward, the ‘other’ life of Naoto Matsumura began …
You see, after hearing the hydrogen explosions at the nuclear plant (only eight miles away from their home), Naoto and his parents had attempted to evacuate. And yet they were first turned away by a relative who feared they had been radioactively contaminated, and then by a nearby shelter because it was already full. So, having no other alternative, the Matsumaras simply returned to their home. Naoto’s parents left a month later to stay with his sister, and yet there was no room for his animals there, and he decided to stay there alone and care for them …
It didn’t take long for Naoto to realize that hundreds of nearby families had left behind their animals, and he gradually started caring for more & ore of them as well — cattle, pigs, cats, dogs, and an ostrich (the sole survivor of a flock of 30 birds) from all throughout Tomioka; all left behind by owners who were initially told the evacuation would be temporary.
Staying behind meant exposing himself to radiation and the government warned him of the risks, and yet Naoto remain unfazed, saying initially that “they told me that I wouldn’t get sick for 30 or 40 years, and I’ll most likely be dead [f old age] by then anyway.” Now tests show that is “completely contaminated,” and yet he has no regrets … Now fifty-eight years old, Matsumura deeply loves the animals that he cares for; he assures freedom to the independent ones, and loving care to all who want to live with him. He now spends six to seven hours a day feeding as many as possible with supplies donated by support groups. He uses a solar panel to power his computer and cell phone and a kerosene heater and charcoal heated table to keep warm during the colder months.
“From then on, I fed all the cats and dogs every day … Everywhere I went there was always barking. Like ‘we’re thirsty’ or ‘we don’t have any food’ so I just kept making the rounds.” ~ Naoto Matsumara
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