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Fukushima
On 11 March 2011, Japan was rocked by the most violent earthquake in her history and one of the largest ever recorded. The quake itself was just the start of a chain of disastrous events, creating a massive tsunami that slammed the shores of north eastern Japan. Close to 20,000 people were killed or disappeared under waves that reached more than 40 metres high as they smashed their way several kilometres inland.
Yet the greatest damage was caused when the tsunami surged over the seawall of Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power station, resulting in a multiple core meltdown that released vast quantities of radioactivity into the atmosphere and ocean. At one stage it even threatened the evacuation and irradiation of Tokyo itself, which would have spelt the end of Japan as we know it.
Fukushima is the incredible story behind the twin catastrophes of the tsunami and nuclear meltdown, seen through the eyes of witnesses and victims – from former prime minister Naoto Kan, the plant director and senior engineers of Fukushima Dai-Ichi, the elite firefighters who risked their lives to avert the ultimate nuclear nightmare, to the mother excavating the wreckage as she looked for her daughter's remains.
Yet the greatest damage was caused when the tsunami surged over the seawall of Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power station, resulting in a multiple core meltdown that released vast quantities of radioactivity into the atmosphere and ocean. At one stage it even threatened the evacuation and irradiation of Tokyo itself, which would have spelt the end of Japan as we know it.
Fukushima is the incredible story behind the twin catastrophes of the tsunami and nuclear meltdown, seen through the eyes of witnesses and victims – from former prime minister Naoto Kan, the plant director and senior engineers of Fukushima Dai-Ichi, the elite firefighters who risked their lives to avert the ultimate nuclear nightmare, to the mother excavating the wreckage as she looked for her daughter's remains.
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2013
18 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 2, 2020
A well-written account of the 2011 tragedy in Japan. You can’t quite begin to comprehend the devastation of an earthquake which causes a tsunami which causes a nuclear power plant explosion. Such an incredible occurrence, made possible by an inadequate Government & a culture of obedience. The book covers the full gamut of those who were impacted & those who were to blame. A riveting read!
August 12, 2013
An eye-opening exploration of avoidable disaster and its impact on the people it affected.
This is a brilliant, step-by-step insight into how the Japanese government, regulatory authorities and Fukushima plant-owner TEPCO responded to the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear emergency. It manages to explain the meltdown situations in detail, but not make your eyes glaze over; and at the same time it draws you in to the stories of individuals affected by the disasters, close enough to feel their pain.
Willacy was really thorough - he seems to have interviewed every person who influenced the decision-making that he could manage to contact, including then-Prime Minister Naoto Kan, a nuclear safety inspector trapped inside the plant for days during the crisis, emergency workers, nuclear experts and seismic experts. The result is unbiased, and even more damning because of its impartiality. Thousands of lives could have been saved if it weren't for corruption, incompetence, and a greed/denial-based refusal to accept scientific research that showed such disaster could occur.
He also found the human side of the story, interviewing a pig farmer who lost nearly everything; a mother who got an excavating licence so she could hasten the search for her daughter's body; a fisherman who rode over the wave; a firefighter battling grief from mot being able to save more people; and a town mayor who, faced with silence from the official channels, evacuated his town from radioactive plumes only to discover too late that their destination was just as toxic. There are also stories of people's lives post-disaster, stuck in tiny temporary apartments on a non-temporary basis and largely forgotten by their country.
A very moving book with infuriating findings.
This is a brilliant, step-by-step insight into how the Japanese government, regulatory authorities and Fukushima plant-owner TEPCO responded to the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear emergency. It manages to explain the meltdown situations in detail, but not make your eyes glaze over; and at the same time it draws you in to the stories of individuals affected by the disasters, close enough to feel their pain.
Willacy was really thorough - he seems to have interviewed every person who influenced the decision-making that he could manage to contact, including then-Prime Minister Naoto Kan, a nuclear safety inspector trapped inside the plant for days during the crisis, emergency workers, nuclear experts and seismic experts. The result is unbiased, and even more damning because of its impartiality. Thousands of lives could have been saved if it weren't for corruption, incompetence, and a greed/denial-based refusal to accept scientific research that showed such disaster could occur.
He also found the human side of the story, interviewing a pig farmer who lost nearly everything; a mother who got an excavating licence so she could hasten the search for her daughter's body; a fisherman who rode over the wave; a firefighter battling grief from mot being able to save more people; and a town mayor who, faced with silence from the official channels, evacuated his town from radioactive plumes only to discover too late that their destination was just as toxic. There are also stories of people's lives post-disaster, stuck in tiny temporary apartments on a non-temporary basis and largely forgotten by their country.
A very moving book with infuriating findings.
July 20, 2013
A emotional and enraging journey through the days and weeks following a terrible tragedy - much if which could have been avoided. Really well written, thoroughly investigated and truly insightful about how it should have been avoided. Hopefully copyright/censorship restrictions allow it to be sold in Japan soon as it should be required reading for concerned citizens.
January 11, 2020
I read this book because I read "Midnight in Chernobyl" and wanted to know a bit more about nuclear disasters. Like Midnight in Chernobyl, this book is positively terrifying. If not for the quick thinking (and blatent ignoring authority to do what needed to be done) this disaster could have been a hell of a lot worse.
The difference between the Chernobyl disaster and the one at Fukushima was that the one at Fukushima was compounded by the scale of the natural disaster that caused it. In this case the disaster at Fukushima was much worse resulting in more people being killed. Whole families were wiped out. The scale of the devestation was mind blowing to read.
There were a lot of similarities between this disaster and the one at Chernobyl. Firstly authorities were warned that something like this could happen. They had data that showed that a tsunami of that size had hit the coast previously. Warnings were covered up or ignored which is really frustrating. One quote from the book "TEPCO took no safety measures because that could spook the locals. But by failing to take those precautions, it had contributed to nuclear meltdowns that had resulted in the locals having to abandon their homes and communities. In other words, avoiding panic was vital, even if it meant risking a catastrophic atomic disaster"
The other similarity I noticed between the two disasters was the lack of information (or wrong information) provided to citizens because the press were too close to those involved in the disaster. Nuclear energy was actively promoted. During the disaster people were exposed to radiation needlessly and even now there is a lack of clarity about the impact and what this might mean for the future. This is particularly true for children who were exposed.
All up it is a very human story. I found the chapter on nuclear refugees particularly difficult to read. Also the story about the children washed away from the school because of inaction from the teachers was particularly hard.
Mostly this book highlights that despite the horror of the Chernobyl disaster it appears that nothing was learnt from how to manage it. I find it heartening that Japan is moving away from nuclear energy.
The difference between the Chernobyl disaster and the one at Fukushima was that the one at Fukushima was compounded by the scale of the natural disaster that caused it. In this case the disaster at Fukushima was much worse resulting in more people being killed. Whole families were wiped out. The scale of the devestation was mind blowing to read.
There were a lot of similarities between this disaster and the one at Chernobyl. Firstly authorities were warned that something like this could happen. They had data that showed that a tsunami of that size had hit the coast previously. Warnings were covered up or ignored which is really frustrating. One quote from the book "TEPCO took no safety measures because that could spook the locals. But by failing to take those precautions, it had contributed to nuclear meltdowns that had resulted in the locals having to abandon their homes and communities. In other words, avoiding panic was vital, even if it meant risking a catastrophic atomic disaster"
The other similarity I noticed between the two disasters was the lack of information (or wrong information) provided to citizens because the press were too close to those involved in the disaster. Nuclear energy was actively promoted. During the disaster people were exposed to radiation needlessly and even now there is a lack of clarity about the impact and what this might mean for the future. This is particularly true for children who were exposed.
All up it is a very human story. I found the chapter on nuclear refugees particularly difficult to read. Also the story about the children washed away from the school because of inaction from the teachers was particularly hard.
Mostly this book highlights that despite the horror of the Chernobyl disaster it appears that nothing was learnt from how to manage it. I find it heartening that Japan is moving away from nuclear energy.
March 2, 2016
Willacy does a brilliant job of explaining the tragedy of Fukushima ... the evacuation. But he didn't bother to ask whether it was necessary. It wasn't. It was contrary to the IAEA guidelines. The evacuation was quite deadly, killing many but nobody was ever at any risk from radiation. Levels were never high enough to warrant evacuation. It was like evacuating Sydney because of bushfire smoke from the Blue Mountains. Bushfire smoke is carcinogenic ... that's true, but the amounts people would be getting in Sydney would be far too small to cause concern. Bushfire smoke is actually more of a risk than low level radiation because it can kill asthmatics.
https://newmatilda.com/2015/09/11/twi...
http://bravenewclimate.com/2013/09/06...
https://newmatilda.com/2015/09/11/twi...
http://bravenewclimate.com/2013/09/06...
February 16, 2014
Willacy has obviously done a great deal of research, looking at all aspects of the 2011 disaster; from local fishermen, nuclear evacuees, and nuclear plant workers to the Prime Minister, TEPCO officials and the media. I felt it was a little bogged down by over-repetition of information and a dramatic writing style that at times made me very uncomfortable, especially when used to describe survivors' experiences. However, it is still an incredibly insightful read and I definitely recommend it.
October 20, 2013
I have always appreciated Mark Willacy's journalism on the ABC. This book is engrossing, very sad at times and ultimately makes me feel we should never trust the head of a nuclear power plant who says all is fine after a huge earthquake and tsunami!!
February 28, 2014
Engrossing and shocking investigation of an avoidable disaster. Thought provoking read. Read at Niseko, Hokkaido.
April 26, 2025
Two stories connected and intertwined, the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, the second the nuclear meltdown of multiple reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant (owned and run by TEPCO - Tokyo Electric Power Company).
The terrible and tragic loss of life from the tsunami is viscerally described and you really feel the loss of loved ones in the most terrible of circumstances (elderly patients abandoned to die in their hospital beds, to 79 school children swept away because the teachers didn't know what they should do).
The reactor operators not knowing what to do, TEPCO covering up failures, not publishing warnings on radio-nucleotide releases, leaving the population exposed to radiation. Corruption to the Ministerial level. It's all there.
As Naoto Kan (a Polition once campioned nuclear power) said - We don't need nuclear
The terrible and tragic loss of life from the tsunami is viscerally described and you really feel the loss of loved ones in the most terrible of circumstances (elderly patients abandoned to die in their hospital beds, to 79 school children swept away because the teachers didn't know what they should do).
The reactor operators not knowing what to do, TEPCO covering up failures, not publishing warnings on radio-nucleotide releases, leaving the population exposed to radiation. Corruption to the Ministerial level. It's all there.
As Naoto Kan (a Polition once campioned nuclear power) said - We don't need nuclear
April 1, 2024
A really well written book that covers the facts and provides a broad but important understanding of the Fumushima disaster. An emotional read thats very quick yet still provides very interesting points into not only the tragedy but Japanese culture.
September 7, 2017
Gained an insight into the disaster of the tsunami & nuclear meltdown. Very touching reading personal encounters & the loss of loved ones.
July 15, 2019
An eye -opening look into a disaster that could have been much, much worse.
December 22, 2019
A must-read book - if you ever needed convincing that nuclear is NOT the way to go, read this. So much human error/ ego / manipulation
July 22, 2017
The eye witness accounts of the tsunami are haunting, the politics around the nuclear plant are a bit boring - long story short there was a massive cover-up and the Japanese press ranks behind Haiti and Honduras in terms of independent critical reporting (the massive nuclear companies heavily "support" the press).
The eye witness accounts of the tsunami make it well worth reading! 3 stars.
(Japan prep 2)
The eye witness accounts of the tsunami make it well worth reading! 3 stars.
(Japan prep 2)
February 16, 2020
Chernobyl was a tough act to follow but this account of what went down in Fukushima is detailed enough.
February 22, 2015
A very good account of the Fukushima tragedy - the tsunami and subsequent nuclear meltdowns. I was in Tokyo with my family during these events, and we really struggled then and subsequently to understand what was really going on. Between the massive over-hype and hysteria of the global press, and the misinformation and sheep-like devotion to the government line of the local press, it was very difficult to distil the truth of what was going on - and make good judgement calls on what might happen, and what to d about it. So it is great to read this meticulously researched and very well presented account of the events - nice work Mr Willacy.
January 26, 2016
An excellent book, giving graphic insight into the reasons for the Fukushima disaster and following the personal stories of a number of people and their families. Hard to read at times, but it really helps you to understand what happened, how the people suffered, and the political wrangling behind the scenes. Having lived in Japan it was easier to understand the political processes and the cultural attitudes that led to some actions taken. A tragic story, but a really good piece of journalism to keep people aware of the ongoing plight of the victims.
June 20, 2015
This is hard to read, but I would have everyone on the planet over 12 read it. Fukushima is a case study in big company (TEPCO)-big government corruption in the extreme. As a consequence, thousands of lives were unnecessarily lost and the lives of those around Fukushima degraded for the rest of their lives. Who knows what the total fallout will be. Great investigative journalism in a country where journalism was (and may remain) on the nose.
June 2, 2016
Is it odd to say I enjoyed this book? So much heartache - the personal stories are harrowing. And this is such an insight into what went on at the nuclear plant - cover-ups, indecision and people who put their lives on the line for their job. It's technically heavy-going in parts where Willacy describes details about the nuclear plant. I enjoyed (again I cringe using that word) the personal stories the most. Not a book to read when you want something easy.
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July 4, 2015Liked this book for the eye opening details and connect with personal stories
April 23, 2017
The purchase of this book was quite serendipitous.
It is a book that is engaging and well written. It is a tragic story of how that dual disaster affected the lives of so many. It covers the disaster itself, but also discusses at length the whole Nuclear culture thing that appears to have contributed to the scale of the disaster. Definitely worth a read.
It is a book that is engaging and well written. It is a tragic story of how that dual disaster affected the lives of so many. It covers the disaster itself, but also discusses at length the whole Nuclear culture thing that appears to have contributed to the scale of the disaster. Definitely worth a read.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews