Kawauchi
7.8
High score (8-10)
Kawauchi village became nationally known in Japan when its mayor ordered residents to return in early 2012 — the first community to do so from the Fukushima nuclear evacuation zones. That decision made national news and gave the village an unusual self-awareness. The returnee community is small but cohesive given what they chose to come back to, and that pride creates openness to visitors who acknowledge the significance of what they did.
Mid score (6-8) · Your profile
Kawauchi now has a population in the low thousands, still far below pre-disaster levels. The village rebuilt basic infrastructure and the returnees are a self-selected group who genuinely wanted to come back. The community is tight and somewhat proud. Not a social destination but not unfriendly either.
Lower score (below 6)
Kawauchi's permanent population is tiny and the average age of returnees is high. There is no entertainment infrastructure and the social world is built entirely around the small returnee community. A foreign visitor here is in the context of disaster recovery research, not leisure or social exploration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the median income in Kawauchi, Fukushima?
$29k median
What's the typical marriage age for women in Kawauchi, Fukushima?
Women marry at 29
How common is a college degree in Kawauchi, Fukushima?
33% men have degree
What's the average male height in Kawauchi, Fukushima?
173 cm local avg
What's the average BMI for women in Kawauchi, Fukushima?
Local women avg 22.3