Formerly the home of 21,000 residents, Namie initially appears to be a ghost town, unkempt and silent. The cleanup operation has begun in preparation for the re-opening of the town and Hisao Sisaki is among those trying to entice loved ones back to their old home. "We are the third generation of our family living here. It's the house that our ancestors built, my father built. If we let it go, that's it." Reassuring people that it's safe to return is not straightforward, however. Fewer than 20% of residents say they'll return and very few of them are young people. "They're saying it's safe", says former resident Junna Sasaki, "but they haven't shown us specific figures...That leaves me concerned. Living at what radiation level, for how long, causes what effects?" In a culture where heritage and continuity means so much, the prospect of a lost generation is heartbreaking for the population. Takemasa Watanabe and his family are hopeful for the future, however: "After the disaster, our mood was so dark. As time has passed, the clouds have gradually cleared to create a space in our minds where we're beginning to accept things".

Produced by Dateline, SBS Australia