For the first time since the March nuclear disaster, a select group of journalists was allowed to tour J-Village, the former sports complex being used by as many as 3,300 TEPCO employees involved in cleanup efforts at the Fukushima nuclear plant. The compound’s 12 soccer fields now house sleeping facilities for 1,000 workers, helipads, decontamination areas, and a medical center, as well as a cafeteria and laundry. The complex also stores nuclear waste in the form of used protective clothing and safety gear. Currently, almost half a million sets of radioactive gear is being stored there. Workers are checked daily for radiation exposure and receive a whole body counter (WBC) exam monthly. The facility provides a sharp contrast to workers’ living conditions in the months immediately following the accident, when workers slept on floors and were given only a biscuit for breakfast and a bowl of noodles for dinner. One worker said, “Conditions have gotten better but it’s still tough.”

(source Greenpeace)