When an earthquake hit Japan and caused a tsunami that flooded the nearby Fukushima nuclear plant, most people fled the radiation cloud. Not Sakae Kato. He stayed behind to rescue cats abandoned by neighbors.

Now alone in Fukushima’s nuclear zone, Sakae cares for dozens of cats, spending up to $7,000 a month for food. Hopefully when people start returning to Fukushima, all of these cats will find good homes but until then, they have Sakae to thank for taking care of them.

To learn more about the man caring for cats in a nuclear zone, click here.