In April 2017, the evacuation order was lifted for most of Tomioka Town, allowing people to return there to live. The supermarket York Benimaru reopened after renovation.
Malaysian photographer Keow Wee Loong snuck into the exclusion zone and took photos in July 2016. This York Benimaru has completely changed in a year.
The Japan Railway company has resumed train services between Tomioka and Tatsuta stations, and begun interim bus services between Tomioka and Namie stations on October 21, 2017. Tomioka Station, which was completely washed away by the tsunami, was rebuilt with a small store and restaurant.
Mr. Sakurai moved to Fukushima from Tokyo and manages the Tomioka Station store, which is named Sakura Station KINONE.
