That’s the thinking of the small seaside town of Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture, located a few hours north of Tokyo. The area has an ancient history stretching back to the Kofun Period (250–552).

FUTABA, Fukushima Prefecture--In the Nagatsuka district here, the lights of only one house could be seen in the darkness at dinnertime on a recent evening. Before the 2011 Great East Japan ...