THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Workers wipe away radioactive materials at a home in Naraha, Fukushima Prefecture, on Jan. 7. (Miki Aoki)
Workers collect leaves and branches in a forest in Tamura, Fukushima Prefecture, on Jan. 7. (Tamiyuki Kihara)
FUKUSHIMA -- Workers in Fukushima Prefecture appeared tense on Jan. 7 as they kicked off this year's decontamination mission under increased scrutiny and the threat of punishment for breaking the Environment Ministry's rules.