The Man Who Stayed Behind to Save Fukushima’s Forgotten Cats

When disaster struck Fukushima a decade ago, most people fled, leaving everything behind. But one man, Sakae Kato, made a different choice. He stayed behind to rescue the cats that were abandoned in the aftermath of the nuclear meltdown. His mission? To care for these forgotten animals until the very last one is safe.

A Lifelong Dedication

Sakae Kato, now 57, lives in the contaminated quarantine zone near the Fukushima nuclear plant. While 160,000 people evacuated the area, Kato decided to remain. His heartbreaking discovery of pets left behind in empty homes pushed him to stay and help.

“I want to make sure I’m here to take care of the last one,” Kato says. He has already buried 23 cats in his garden, with wild boars occasionally disturbing the graves. Currently, he cares for 41 cats between his home and an empty building on his property.

A Hard Life in the Quarantine Zone

Kato’s life in the quarantine zone is challenging. There’s no running water, so he collects it from a nearby spring and drives to public toilets. He keeps food for the feral cats in a storage shed, heating the space with a paraffin stove. Among the animals he cares for is a rescued dog named Pochi.

Though his home has been in the family for three generations, Kato knows it won’t last forever. The two-story wooden house is falling apart, with sagging floors and holes in the walls. A recent earthquake shook the area, stirring memories of the devastating 2011 quake that caused the tsunami and nuclear disaster.

Despite these conditions, Kato refuses to leave the mountains he loves. “I don’t want to leave,” he says, standing by his house, where he’s allowed to visit but technically not allowed to live.

The Cost of Caring

Kato spends about $7,000 a month caring for his animals, with some of that money going to feed wild boars that gather near his home. Farmers in the area consider the boars pests and blame them for damaging empty homes.

In February, Kato was arrested on suspicion of freeing wild boars that had been caught in government traps. As of the time of this writing, he remains in custody for questioning.

While he’s detained, volunteers are caring for the cats on his property, but sadly, at least one cat has died in his absence.

A Man Who Never Gave Up

Sakae Kato’s story is one of incredible dedication and compassion. While most people left Fukushima behind, he chose to stay and fight for the animals left behind. His love for these forgotten creatures has kept him going, even as his own home falls apart around him. Despite the hardships, Kato remains a symbol of selflessness, doing whatever it takes to protect the lives of those who cannot protect themselves.