Shopping center opens in disaster-hit Fukushima town as evacuees return

A new shopping complex opened Tuesday in the town of Naraha, Fukushima Prefecture, nearly three years after the government's evacuation order following the 2011 nuclear disaster was lifted.The public facility, dubbed "Kokonara Shotengai," consists of 10 shops including a supermarket, a bakery and a barber's shop.The Chinese character meaning "laughter" was used as part of the name as a way to encourage and inspire returning residents.The new shopping complex is adjacent to emergency public housing, a medical institution and a childcare center. It replaces a makeshift shopping district locat…READ FULL ARTICLE