In the wake of the Vatican's February summit on clerical sexual abuse, the Tokyo-based Catholic Bishops' Conference will begin to investigate cases of abuse in Japan, going far back as 20 years ago.

"I never imagined such a horrible thing happening," said Chikara Inabayashi, who was tending his watermelon patch. "I was astonished, that's the only thing I can say."

Five years on, the most heavily damaged communities have yet to be rebuilt. About 180,000 people are still displaced, including those reluctant to return to homes in Fukushima.