The evacuation began yesterday following an order from the Japanese education ministry on Friday, Principal Toshiaki Nobumoto said. Most of the 28 students at the academy with elementary and junior high schools have already left the country.
''We want to come back as soon as possible and prepare to reopen our school,'' Nobumoto said. ''It is very regrettable because some children were waiting for their upcoming graduation ceremony'' ahead of the March 31 end of the Japanese academic year.