Some people have mentioned to me that they are hesitant to volunteer in Tohoku due to radiation.

Reports about radiation vary considerably, and in fact we do not have very much reliable scientific data (Hiroshima, Chernobyl, etc) to fully understand the long-range effects of even small amounts. I am not a scientist so I cannot provide information on this.
(Others have posted to the list on this topic.)

But the area where much volunteering activity occurs, such as Ishinomaki, Miyagi-ken (where both Peace Boat and JEN are based) is well outside of any radiation area, even the widest set by the US government. There have been no reports of radiation levels in Ishinomaki that are any different from Tokyo.

So, if you are going to "risk" coming to do research and conferences here in Tokyo or other parts of Japan, you would not be increasing that risk by doing some volunteering--and you would be doing a huge amount of good.

(Of course, there are many other groups who are working further up North, reaching populations that are closer to higher radiation levels.)

David Slater
Sophia U.

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David H. Slater, Ph.D.
Faculty of Liberal Arts
Sophia University, Tokyo