. >> reporter: that message was written by 64-year-old yoshito kanno. in front of his house, giant bags filled with radioactive soil and waste from the nuclear cleanup all stored on his farmland, a wasteland. that was once filled with beautiful scenery. this was kind of like 30 years ago. he was running a cattle farm with his wife and son, three generations living under the same roof. >> reporter: in preparation for the return, kanno renovated his house after it sat empty for six years. he kept the century-old wooden pillars. >> translator: i want to convey my forefather's thoughts to my children. this is the only tangible evidence of that heritage. >> reporter: kanno's son and his family will raise cattle in northern japan. last year they visited the farm for the first time since the disaster. one small mark meant so much to kanno. >> reporter: marking the height of my grandchildren isn't really a big deal, but for my family, it's the first and most significant step towards true reconstruction. >> reporter: and a bit later wrote about his desire for th