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
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Koyu Abe gives instructions to volunteers during a radiation cleansing event at an elementary school in Fukushima.
— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
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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
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Volunteers clean ditches during a radiation cleansing event hosted by Abe at an elementary school in Fukushima.
— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
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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
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Abe places a lid on a barrel containing radioactive soil on the grounds of Joenji temple.
— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
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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
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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
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A volunteer worker looks at Geiger counter readings during a radiation cleansing event at a Fukushima elementary school.
— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
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Abe gives a lecture during radioactive contamination workshop for local residentsin Fukushima.
— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
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Abe changes his clothes before a traditional Buddhist memorial service at Joenji temple.
— Yuriko Nakao / X90018
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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
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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
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Abe walks through a graveyard in the snow at the Joenji temple.