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Image: Koyu Abe, a Zen priest, prays before a grave along with bereaved family members at the Joenji temple in Fukushima

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Zen monk fights radiation in Japan

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Image: Koyu Abe, a Zen priest, prays before a grave along with bereaved family members at the Joenji temple in Fukushima

Koyu Abe, a Zen Buddhist priest, prays before a grave along with bereaved family members at the Joenji temple in Fukushima, Japan on Feb. 4. Last summer, Abe grew and distributed sunflowers and other plants, such as field mustard and amaranthus, in an effort to cheer local residents. Now he is trading his ceremonial robes for a protective mask, working with volunteers to track down lingering pockets of radiation and cleaning them up.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: Koyu Abe, a Zen priest, gives instructions to volunteers during a radiation cleansing event hosted by himself in Fukushima

Koyu Abe gives instructions to volunteers during a radiation cleansing event at an elementary school in Fukushima.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: Koyu Abe, a Zen priest, talks to volunteers before a workshop to inform local residents on how to deal with radioactive contamination at Joenji temple in Fukushima

Abe talks to volunteers before a workshop, at Joenji temple in Fukushima, to inform local residents on how to deal with radioactive contamination.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: Volunteer workers clean inside ditches during a radiation cleansing event hosted by Zen priest Koyu Abe in Fukushima

Volunteers clean ditches during a radiation cleansing event hosted by Abe at an elementary school in Fukushima.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: Koyu Abe, a Zen priest, looks at the readings on his Geiger counter on the grounds of his Joenji temple in Fukushima

Abe looks at Geiger counter readings at the grounds of his Joenji temple, where he is allowing people to bring in radioactive waste in Fukushima.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: Koyu Abe, a Zen priest, places a lid on a barrel containing radioactive soil on the grounds of his Joenji temple in Fukushima

Abe places a lid on a barrel containing radioactive soil on the grounds of Joenji temple.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: Aoki, a volunteer, looks at readings on a Geiger counter during a workshop hosted by Koyu Abe, a Zen monk, in Fukushima

Masataka Aoki (R), a 65-year old volunteer who was an engineer at nuclear plant maker Hitachi, looks at Geiger counter readings during a workshop hosted by Abe to inform the local residents on how to clean up radioactive contamination.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: A volunteer worker is reflected in waters inside a ditch as a Geiger counter is placed for measurement during a radiation-cleansing event in Fukushima

A volunteer worker is reflected in water inside a ditch as a Geiger counter is placed for measurement during a radiation-cleansing event hosted by Abe, at a Fukushima elementary school.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: Koyu Abe, a Zen priest, places a lid on a barrel containing radioactive soil on the grounds of his Joenji temple in Fukushima

A volunteer worker looks at Geiger counter readings during a radiation cleansing event at a Fukushima elementary school.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: Koyu Abe, a Zen priest, gives a lecture during a workshop to inform the local residents on how to deal with radioactive contamination in Fukushima

Abe gives a lecture during radioactive contamination workshop for local residentsin Fukushima.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: Koyu Abe, a Zen priest, changes his clothes before a traditional Buddhist memorial service at his Joenji temple in Fukushima, northern Japan

Abe changes his clothes before a traditional Buddhist memorial service at Joenji temple.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: Hisashi Abe, 3, he plays inside his grandparents' house near Joenji temple in Fukushima, northern Japan

Hisashi Abe, 3, plays inside his grandparents' house near Fukushima's Joenji temple. Abe has been kept inside most of his time since last March due to radiation fears.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: Koyu Abe, a Zen priest, looks through a book as he writes a Buddhist name on a wooden grave tablet at his study room in Joenji temple in Fukushima

Abe looks through a book as he writes a Buddhist name on a wooden grave tablet at his study room in Joenji temple.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
Image: Koyu Abe, a Zen priest, walks through a graveyard in the snow at the Joenji temple in Fukushima

Abe walks through a graveyard in the snow at the Joenji temple.

— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
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