Fukushima ice cream maker wins Italian award

National Jan. 25, 2012 - 07:00PM JST ( 44 )

RIMINI, Italy —

An ice cream maker from Fukushima Prefecture on Tuesday was awarded a prize at the 33rd edition of the International Exhibition for the Artisan Production of Gelato, Pastry, Confectionery and Bakery (SIGEP) in Rimini, Italy.

Shinsaku Katahira received the award for his coffee ice cream. After the earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan on March 11, Katahira decided not to leave his hometown of Date, 40 kilometers from Fukushima, and his popular ice-cream shop in spite of the fact that the area was largely evacuated.

Katahira, who also produces milk from his cows, says his business has dropped by 90% since the disaster, but he is determined to carry on in the hope that life will return to normal in the Fukushima area as quickly as possible.

Order by Time Order by Popularity

44 Comments

9

tokyokawasakiJan. 25, 2012 - 10:27AM JST

He is unfortunate to be caught up in the wake of the the nuclear disaster.

It's a shame because no one will care about this award because no one will risk eating his ice-cream made from local produce...

This most shocking aspect of this story is:

he is determined to carry on in the hope that life will return to normal in the Fukushima area as quickly as possible

Who has been deluding these people that life will return to normal in Fukushima. I do not know of anyone who is happy to consume anything grown or produced in Fukushima. So how is 'returning to normal' even possible?

My advice would be to leave and set up in another area of Japan which is considered safer...
0

smartacusJan. 25, 2012 - 10:31AM JST

Good for him. I'll be happy to try his ice cream, if it will help support his business.
7

jforceJan. 25, 2012 - 10:48AM JST

Propaganda piece of the day. Get out of Fukushima buddy and move to the big city to start raking in the Yen. Stubbornness is stupidity in this case.
4

zichiJan. 25, 2012 - 10:53AM JST

The only reason people left Date was because of high radiation. He's also producing milk in the same area? He might be a good ice cream maker but he don't seem very bright?
4

BurakuminDesJan. 25, 2012 - 11:04AM JST

Katahira decided not to leave his hometown of Date, 40 kilometers from Fukushima, and his popular ice-cream shop in spite of the fact that the area was largely evacuated.

Umm, the story needs a minor correction - the area of Date is not largely evacuated. I am there once a week, not much has changed there except for some vege/rice fields not being harvested. Can't see any businesses closed. I hope he has regular testing on his milk products though. I will try and find his shop and support him!
3

Hide SuzukiJan. 25, 2012 - 11:47AM JST

Good for him but "his business has dropped by 90% since the disaster," how is he making ends meet ? Maybe he has some savings but 90% drop normally means you are out of business.
7

zichiJan. 25, 2012 - 12:00PM JST

Did the Italians think to test his ice cream for radiation or were just amused that it glowed in the dark?

40 kilometers away at the Fukushima 1 plant, atmospheric radiation released went up in December from 60 million to 70 million becquerels per hour. That's 1, 783, 600, 000, 000 becquerels per year.

Radiation levels in Date remain high. Above 15 millisieverts per year.

From last Sept.:

Nikkan SPA Magazine: Researcher Says Large Amount of Neptunium-239 Also in Date City, Fukushima

It's the same researcher who said several thousand becquerels/kg of neptunium-239 was found in the soil in Iitate-mura, about 35 km northwest of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. It seems it's not just Iitate-mura that got doused with neptunium, which decays into plutonium. Date City, about 25 km northwest from Iitate-mura and 60 km from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, also got a large amount of neptunium.

To recap, uranium-239, whose half life is about 24 minutes, decays into neptunium-239 with a half life of about 2.5 days, which then decays into plutonium-239 whose half life is 24,200 years.

http://pacificfreepress.com/news/1/9699-nelles-fukushima-meltdown-update-september-13-2011.html

The districts are Ryozenmachi, Kamioguni, Shimooguni and Tsukidatemachi in Date were evacuated last June because the government feared there would be radiation levels greater than 20 millisieverts per year.

Last November it was discovered that some Date City rice had cesium. Rice was banned from the Oguni and Tsukidate areas.

Just to remind you: If a government ask you to voluntarily do something, the government does not compensate you for your inconvenience. If the government orders you to do something, then the government is obligated to compensate.

http://www.infiniteunknown.net/2011/11/29/dangerously-high-levels-of-radioactive-cesium-detected-in-rice-from-date-city-60km-from-fukushima-nuke-plant/
3

MaboDofuIsSpicyJan. 25, 2012 - 12:03PM JST

Does he have a home page for mail order delivery?
-4

zichiJan. 25, 2012 - 12:08PM JST

How would you do mail order for ice cream, think about it?
5

Blair HerronJan. 25, 2012 - 12:18PM JST

How would you do mail order for ice cream, think about it?

http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/english/services/cool.html
3

Blair HerronJan. 25, 2012 - 12:19PM JST

How would you do mail order for ice cream, think about it?

http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/english/services/cool.html
-4

soldaveJan. 25, 2012 - 12:29PM JST

Cool. What award did he actually win?
4

Blair HerronJan. 25, 2012 - 12:29PM JST

Does he have a home page for mail order delivery?

His ice-cream is available at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa near JR Shinagawa Station

http://bestmlbjerseysblogt.blogspot.com/2011/08/support-project-helps-fukushima-ice.html
1

zichiJan. 25, 2012 - 12:31PM JST

I think its a great honor to win an Italian ice cream award who are the real masters. I loved living in Italy, wine women and ice cream.
-6

Ted BarreraJan. 25, 2012 - 12:36PM JST

With an award like that it's such a waste to be so stubborn and not move business to a location where people will be willing to try your product. Insisting on holding shop in a nuclear disaster area is not only stupid, but socially irresponsible.
-5

Ted BarreraJan. 25, 2012 - 12:39PM JST

I hope he at least has the decency to put a label on his products stating that the milk is sourced from his on cows in Fukushima. Let's hope parents are wise enough to know not to serve this to kids.
3

Blair HerronJan. 25, 2012 - 12:46PM JST

The milk from his farm (Date, Fukushima) was examined and found safe, but he gets milk from other prefectures in order to sell in Tokyo.

八ベクレルが検出限界値の放射性物質検査で「検出なし」。安全性に自信はあるが、東京で消費者の理解を得るのは難しいと判断し、他県の牧場からジャージー乳を購入する。

http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/tokyo/20120114/CK2012011402000020.html
1

anglootakuJan. 25, 2012 - 01:50PM JST

Fukushima will get back on track, ganbarre
1

MaboDofuIsSpicyJan. 25, 2012 - 02:02PM JST

Zichi: Takubin and other companies deliver cold and frozen.
1

MaboDofuIsSpicyJan. 25, 2012 - 02:04PM JST

Blair, You would be a good salesman for him. Why not write to him?
3

sasukeneJan. 25, 2012 - 02:04PM JST

My wife is from Date and we have tried the ice cream from his shop a couple of times and it is very good. This will be a small bit of good news for the town. BurakuminDes is spot on. No major evacuations happened. Also, the local JA is testing all produce in the area and some crops are not being harvested if high cesium readings are found. Not sure about milk testing.
5

zichiJan. 25, 2012 - 02:05PM JST

Blair Herron,

"The milk from his farm (Date, Fukushima) was examined and found safe"

But that milk and as well as all other foodstuffs from Date City will require years of regular testing, not just a one off thing.

In the UK there are still 320 farms which are required to test their foodstuffs before releasing them to market, because of Chernobyl.
3

zichiJan. 25, 2012 - 02:08PM JST

MaboDoulsSpicy and Balir Herron

thank you for the link about frozen delivery.
1

NessieJan. 25, 2012 - 02:11PM JST

Another good product from the general area (not Fukushima, but Ibaraki) is "Hitachino Nest Beer." The amber ale is excellent.

http://www.kodawari.cc/?en_home/products/hitachino-nest-beer.html

Definitely one to try if you see it in the shops. They sell it at some Jupiters.
-2

Ted BarreraJan. 25, 2012 - 02:15PM JST

Blair Herron, if you've been keeping up to date with the news regarding products out of Fukushima, and how many once-declared-safe foods have been retagged as unsafe, or later found to be unsafe by independent testers, I'm impressed that you still wholeheartedly believe Government reports at this stage. Personally, and this is strictly my personal view, I'm avoiding anything out of Fukushima. Period. Youre entitled to your own opinion. Hats off to you if you're willing to risk your health over ice cream.
-2

Ted BarreraJan. 25, 2012 - 02:29PM JST

Also, my previous statements were from a business standpoint. Think of the potential with those credentials in a highly populated city like Tokyo or Osaka, vs. an area (in this case Date) with a small population that is in extremely close proximity to one of the worst nuclear disaster sites in history. It just makes sense to move shop.
-1

Blair HerronJan. 25, 2012 - 02:31PM JST

But that milk and as well as all other foodstuffs from Date City will require years of regular testing, not just a one off thing.In the UK there are still 320 farms which are required to test their foodstuffs before releasing them to market, because of Chernobyl.

Zichi, thank you always for the factual information. It helps me to know what to worry or not to worry.

Blair, You would be a good salesman for him. Why not write to him?

I wish I could support him, but I'm still suspicious if it is 100% safe as zichi and others say.

It's all Edano's fault.
1

Darren BrannanJan. 25, 2012 - 02:49PM JST

Yes it is largely Edano's fault. He and Kan and Hosono helped Tepco do the cover-up of the century. Congratulations to this gentleman but is this a prize for PR or sentimentality because of his situation? I wish him well nevertheless.
5

Blair HerronJan. 25, 2012 - 03:01PM JST

Blair Herron,I'm impressed that you still wholeheartedly believe Government reports at this stage.

Please read my previous posts on other thread. You will know how much I distrust the government, especially EDANO!!!

if you've been keeping up to date with the news regarding products out of Fukushima, and how many once-declared-safe foods have been retagged as unsafe, or later found to be unsafe by independent testers, Personally, and this is strictly my personal view, I'm avoiding anything out of Fukushima.

I'm sorry if I made an impression that I am promoting "All products from Fukushima are safe". I just meant to post additional information that I read from other web news and tried to help other posters questions. (delivery service and so) But I think I should stop it because I really don't mean to promote "Fukushima products are safe". Please don't be mad.

One thing I want to tell people is that it's true that wide area of Fukushima prefecture is contaminated by radioactive particles, but not only Fukushima prefecture, some areas in other prefectures as well. What I'm trying say is that it's wrong to make boarder lines between prefectures toward radiation dispersion from Fukushima Daiichi plant. Within Fukushima prefecture, further north is more highly contaminated than the south. Some areas outside Fukushima prefecture (Tokatsu area in Chiba prefecture, for example) are more radiated than some areas in Fukushima prefecture.

http://fukushima-radioactivity.jp/

Further west of Fukushima prefecture in Aizuwakamatsu (96km from the plant), for example, the radiation level is 0.05~0.15 microSV/h (1/10/2012)

http://www.city.aizuwakamatsu.fukushima.jp/ja/joho/kankyo/radial/radial_original.htm

Kita-Kashiwa Daiichi Midori in Chiba prefecture (199km from the plant), for example, the radiation level is 0.43~0.59 microSV/h(12/28/2011)

http://pop-rin.up.seesaa.net/image/tokatsuRmap.jpg

The harbor of Namie-machi Fukushima prefecture (6km from the plant), for example, the radiation level is 0.08 microSV/h (11/5/2011)

http://www.freeml.com/bl/8513681/39953/

But still, I agree with you that when it comes to FOOD, people should be extra careful, especially to children.

And again,it's all Edano's fault.
-3

anglootakuJan. 25, 2012 - 03:21PM JST

Everything takes time, no different from reconstructing iraq, afghanistan etc, nothing happens over night
0

zichiJan. 25, 2012 - 03:25PM JST

Blair Herron,

Its true that other areas outside of Fukushima are also contaminated and according to the science ministry, 30,000 sq km are contaminated, about 8% of the total land mass.

But Fukushima is the most contaminated not only with rice and other foodstuffs but as seen by a recent story, also the likes of building materials.

All farming and food production, east of Fukushima City should be suspended for 5 years. All foodstuff being sold from Fukushima needs to be tested and labelled.
-1

moshinkyJan. 25, 2012 - 03:35PM JST

I live in a town in Fukushima, about 100km from the nuclear plant. I think that it is a good news but that it is sad if they gave him the award from sympathy or hypocracy.
0

zichiJan. 25, 2012 - 04:09PM JST

All-out PR campaign by the national government and the Fukushima prefectural government for the people in Fukushima who remain is on.

As part of the campaign, the Fukushima prefectural government is holding "forums" for the residents in locations inside Fukushima so that the residents can feel safe and secure, without worry, living in radioactive Fukushima.

http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2012/01/rah-rah-land-called-fukushima-lets-all.html
-3

soldaveJan. 25, 2012 - 04:43PM JST

Again, it was first prize he got, right? The article is unclear about it.
0

Blair HerronJan. 25, 2012 - 05:01PM JST

@zichi,

I have been following you like a stalker since you always give us factual information and links. Thank you.
-2

MolenirJan. 25, 2012 - 05:48PM JST

I wonder, if people's attitudes were the same back at the end of WW2, as they are today, whether there would be anyone living, even today in either Nagasaki or Hiroshima. This constant fear-mongering to get out of Fukushima simply does not help. When it comes down to it, you could live right next door to the former nuclear plant, and would still be far more likely to die from a heart attack, old age, disease, or a car accident then you would be to die from radiation caused cancer.
2

zichiJan. 25, 2012 - 06:16PM JST

Blair Herron, you are welcome.
1

JapanGalJan. 25, 2012 - 08:07PM JST

Thanks one and all for the good links. I have still been monitoring water run off places occasionally. Many places too high in Kanagawa.
0

SerranoJan. 25, 2012 - 09:37PM JST

"coffee ice cream"

Why this is not sold in every supermarket and conbini is beyond me.
1

valley-of-the-shadowsJan. 25, 2012 - 11:05PM JST

I think he should get out of the deadly Fukushima contaminated zone and head off to Italy...
0

kurisupisuJan. 26, 2012 - 08:37AM JST

Radiation is still being emitted from the plant!

Into the air,groundwater and the earth.

Thus, it would be logical to assume that contamination is ongoing. Previously contaminated areas and their boundaries are becoming smaller not larger.

The Japanese government is not testing every product grown or manufactured so it could be the case radioactively contaminated produce is being transported and consumed around Japan still.

Mr Katahira hopes that life will return to normal but it will not.....
1

Ted BarreraJan. 26, 2012 - 09:11AM JST

Thanks for the clarification Blair. Wasn't getting mad, just emphasizing my view that food from Fukushima is generally unsafe, and that from a business point of view it just doesn't seem smart to run a dairy-based business in a radioactive area, when he could be making a lot more money elsewhere. Lots of thumbs down ratings for those posts, but I stand by that viewpoint. I'm not anti-Fukushima btw. My wife's relatives are from there, some are rice farmers in fact (or were... They had a lot saved up so they've stopped production and are looking into other ventures. Social responsibility!) and one of her cousins is even a police officer assigned to the Daiichi plant, so we hear a lot about the situation there, and how the government is hiding A LOT more than we even think they are. They all want to move to Okinawa... Tough times.
-1

kurisupisuJan. 26, 2012 - 09:33AM JST

Boundaries of contamination are increasing not decreasing as I stated in the previous post......
1

Blair HerronJan. 26, 2012 - 12:27PM JST

Lots of thumbs down ratings for those posts, but I stand by that viewpoint.

When it comes to ice cream, people get emotional, you know :P

My wife's relatives are from there

My grandmother is from Fukushima, too.

the government is hiding A LOT

That's the problem from day 1. Again and again, it's EDANO'S FAULT!!!