I don’t have any relatives [here], so I have very few people to talk to or share my worries with. I keep losing the lottery for temporary housing. (Woman in her 60s, Ishinomaki, April 25, 2011)

I was waiting for [a chance to move into] temporary housing, but each unit only has two rooms, each the size of 4.5 tatamis [about 7m2]. It’d be too small even just for my husband and me because we have lots of stuff. So we decided to move into public housing. But once we leave the prefecture, we’ll have to furnish the new house by ourselves and we won’t get to receive the government subsidy of 60,000 yen (per month) [paid under certain conditions to evacuees who rent private housing]. It’s not fair that only those who remain in the prefecture can receive the subsidy. (Woman in her 70s, Koriyama, May 11, 2011)

I’m wondering if it might be better to stay here [at the evacuation centre] where it costs me nothing than to move into temporary housing. (Man in his 70s, Koriyama, May 11, 2011)

I’ve applied for temporary housing. My house is totally collapsed. But people whose houses are partially collapsed are also applying, which lowers my odds of winning. (Woman in her 50s, Ishinomaki, May 16, 2011)

I’ve applied for temporary housing, but I don’t think I’ll win. I’ve heard that you need connections to get it. (Woman in her 70s, Ishinomaki, May 16, 2011)

I couldn’t get into the temporary housing which is right in front of this evacuation centre. I guess I just have to wait, hoping that I will get in some day. I realize there are many people in hardship. (Woman in her 60s, Rikuzentakata, May 17, 2011)

I took leave from work until I could find a new house, but I got fired. I haven’t won the lottery for temporary housing yet, either. I don’t want to stay in a place like this, where it floods. They better not build temporary housing in locations like this. (Man in his 50s, Ishinomaki, May 18, 2011)

I’ll be all alone since everyone else who was staying in this room [in the evacuation centre] are moving out. They are just so slow [to build temporary housing]! It would be faster to build it ourselves. (Man in his 50s, Ishinomaki, May 19, 2011)

There’s a lottery for temporary housing, but I have mixed feelings about it. If I win, I’ll have to live alone and that would be lonely. (Woman in her 70s, Onagawacho, May 29, 2011)

I want to move into temporary housing and cook my own food. (Woman in her 70s, Onagawacho, May 29, 2011)

I know that in the evacuation centers there are many people who lost their homes. But even for those of us whose homes were spared, our lifelines hadn’t been restored until recently. It had been a living hell for us until then. In the end, we are all victims. (Woman in her 70s, Kesennuma, May 21, 2011)

It would be nice if this footbath service was offered on a regular basis. Thank you for letting me know about it. [The footbath volunteers had visited each temporary housing unit one by one to inform residents about the service.] (Woman in her 70s, Rikuzentakata, May 31, 2011)

[At the town briefings to evacuees of the Fukushima nuclear power plant about the short visit home which they will be granted] People ask only rubbish questions, and the town office’s explanations don’t make any sense either. It’s so exhausting. (Man in his 50s, Koriyama, May 13, 2011)

Our hardship around here in Fukushima is four-fold; earthquake, tsunami, nuclear power plant accident and harmful rumors. Ah, you are from Tokyo. Even though it is officially the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, they usually omit the Tokyo part and refer to it just as the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. So maybe you people in Tokyo weren’t even aware that the power plant was owned by TEPCO, no? (Man in his 50s, Koriyama, May 13, 2011)

If I were asked to leave here, I guess I could still live on the second floor of my house [which was not damaged], but… (Man in his 50s, Ishinomaki, May 16, 2011) I can’t continue to do nothing even though I can get by for now. I have to work, but what shall I do? (Man in his 60s, Ishinomaki, May 18, 2011)

I’m tired of this. Even when I come back here after work, I can’t relax because it’s a gymnasium after all. I got fired [from my previous job] while I was taking leave to find a place to live. How cruel is that. (Man in his 50s, Ishinomaki, May 18, 2011)

I didn’t want to give my daughter away [to marry], but she was in love. Gosh, it’s been a long time since I talked about her. (Man in his 60s, Ishinomaki, May 19, 2011)

I used to harvest seaweed for a living. But my nets were washed away, and I lost my house and livelihood. I can’t receive my pension yet. My child is still in high school and I don’t even have a house. (Man in his 60s, Kesennuma, May 20, 2011) Life here [in the gymnasium/evacuation center] is so boring. (Man in his 60s, Kesennuma, May 20, 2011)

My house had no damage since it was located on a hill, but I can’t really talk about it [out of consideration for the many people who lost their homes]. (Man in his 60s, Kesennuma, May 21, 2011)

I can’t sleep at night because it’s so noisy here. My wife and mother are staying in a different place. I guess I feel a bit lonely. But for now I’m staying here alone. (Man in his 50s, Ishinomaki, May 29, 2011)