nhk world's my sammy uk co-visits a struggling to get on his feet. >> reporter: it at that time village is part of the evacuation zone. people can enter some districts like this during the daytime, but they aren't allowed to live there. this man comes from a long line of farmers. he was born in itate and has spent his entire life farming. kanno prided himself on how little he used pesticides and chemical fertilizers. he was committed to delivering fresh produce to consumers in other areas, and he says quality soil is where it all begins. >> translator: not being able to farm the bletings of the earth is like losing your life. >> reporter: the level of radiation is relatively high in itate, so the village decided to strip the topsoil. the kanno says that poses a threat to his livelihood. this five meter of topsoil is rich in newt i don't want. farmers spend their lives cultivating it. the dilemma is that the contamination may clean up the field, but without the topsoil, growing crops is much harder. kanno wanted to figure out a way to remove radioactive materials but keep the nutrients.