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My Nuclear Nightmare: Leading Japan through the Fukushima Disaster to a Nuclear-Free Future
"Naoto Kan, who was prime minister of Japan when the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster began, has become a ubiquitous and compelling voice for the global antinuclear movement. Kan compared the potential worst-case devastation that could be caused by a nuclear power plant meltdown as tantamount only to 'a great world war. Nothing else has the same impact.' Japan escaped such a dire fate during the Fukushima disaster, said Kan, only due to luck. Even so, Kan had to make some steely-nerved decisions that necessitated putting all emotion aside. In a now famous phone call from Tepco, when the company asked to pull all their personnel from the out-of-control Fukushima site for their own safety, Kan told them no. The workforce must stay. The few would need to make the sacrifice to save the many. Kan knew that abandoning the Fukushima Daiichi site would cause radiation levels in the surrounding environment to soar. His insistence that the Tepco workforce remain at Fukushima was perhaps one of the most unsung moments of heroism in the whole sorry saga." The Ecologist
On March 11, 2011, a massive undersea earthquake off Japan s coast triggered devastating tsunami waves that in turn caused meltdowns at three reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Ranked with Chernobyl as the worst nuclear disaster in history, Fukushima will have lasting consequences for generations. Until 3.11, Japan s Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, had supported the use of nuclear power. His position would undergo a radical change, however, as Kan watched the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 Power Plant unfold and came to understand the potential for the physical, economic, and political destruction of Japan.
In My Nuclear Nightmare, Kan offers a fascinating day-by-day account of his actions in the harrowing week after the earthquake struck. He records the anguished decisions he had to make as the scale of destruction became clear and the threat of nuclear catastrophe loomed ever larger decisions made on the basis of information that was often unreliable. For example, frustrated by the lack of clarity from the executives at Tepco, the company that owned the power plant, Kan decided to visit Fukushima himself, despite the risks, so he could talk to the plant s manager and find out what was really happening on the ground. As he details, a combination of extremely good fortune and hard work just barely prevented a total meltdown of all of Fukushima s reactor units, which would have necessitated the evacuation of the thirty million residents of the greater Tokyo metropolitan area.
In the book, first published in Japan in 2012, Kan also explains his opposition to nuclear power: I came to understand that a nuclear accident carried with it a risk so large that it could lead to the collapse of a country. When Kan was pressured by the opposition to step down as prime minister in August 2011, he agreed to do so only after legislation had been passed to encourage investments in alternative energy. As both a document of crisis management during an almost unimaginable disaster and a cogent argument about the dangers of nuclear power, My Nuclear Nightmare is essential reading.
"
On March 11, 2011, a massive undersea earthquake off Japan s coast triggered devastating tsunami waves that in turn caused meltdowns at three reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Ranked with Chernobyl as the worst nuclear disaster in history, Fukushima will have lasting consequences for generations. Until 3.11, Japan s Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, had supported the use of nuclear power. His position would undergo a radical change, however, as Kan watched the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 Power Plant unfold and came to understand the potential for the physical, economic, and political destruction of Japan.
In My Nuclear Nightmare, Kan offers a fascinating day-by-day account of his actions in the harrowing week after the earthquake struck. He records the anguished decisions he had to make as the scale of destruction became clear and the threat of nuclear catastrophe loomed ever larger decisions made on the basis of information that was often unreliable. For example, frustrated by the lack of clarity from the executives at Tepco, the company that owned the power plant, Kan decided to visit Fukushima himself, despite the risks, so he could talk to the plant s manager and find out what was really happening on the ground. As he details, a combination of extremely good fortune and hard work just barely prevented a total meltdown of all of Fukushima s reactor units, which would have necessitated the evacuation of the thirty million residents of the greater Tokyo metropolitan area.
In the book, first published in Japan in 2012, Kan also explains his opposition to nuclear power: I came to understand that a nuclear accident carried with it a risk so large that it could lead to the collapse of a country. When Kan was pressured by the opposition to step down as prime minister in August 2011, he agreed to do so only after legislation had been passed to encourage investments in alternative energy. As both a document of crisis management during an almost unimaginable disaster and a cogent argument about the dangers of nuclear power, My Nuclear Nightmare is essential reading.
"
- GenresNonfiction
200 pages, Hardcover
Published January 10, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 5, 2017
I usually love books on disasters, a bit morbid I know, and fly through reading them. This one just didn't work like that. It should have been great, especially since it was what the Prime Minister of Japan experienced at the time of the earthquake and Fukushima disaster. It was so slow to read. It is a really short book around 180 pages and it seemed to take forever to get through. If you want to know more about this fairly current disaster give this a try, just expect parts of it to be a bit dry.
March 10, 2017
Naoto Kan had been Prime Minister of Japan for less than a year when the country was impacted by the worst disaster since World War II. On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck northeast Japan. The nuclear reactors at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant were badly damaged, resulting in a level 7 nuclear meltdown.
I’m not extra knowledgeable about Japanese politics or nuclear power, so I’m not going to make a judgment on any of those points. I read this book to learn the behind-the-scenes account of a man who was leading a nation when major disaster struck. Naoto Kan details his handling of the situation, while addressing criticism and attempting to set the record straight on any inaccuracies or miscommunications. A nuclear disaster of this scale was not anticipated and the law did not prepare for this type of situation, so he faced the delicate balance of not overstepping his bounds when dealing with a private company. He describes the challenge of managing multiple disasters while keeping the rest of the country running, as well as the politics that led to his resignation September 2, 2011.
I was fascinated by the inner workings of the government during this time of crisis. For instance, the head of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) was experienced in economics, not nuclear safety. NISA falls under the ministry in charge of promoting the use of nuclear power, creating the potential for conflict of interest. I was shocked when TEPCO considered abandoning the plant, which would have lead to certain disaster. In terms of Kan, I was struck by the loneliness of the job and the pressure of making decisions when every choice has the potential for serious consequences. I was impressed by the spirit of cooperation among the many nations of the world and their commitment to helping Japan get the situation under control.
Besides telling his side of the story, Kan also uses this opportunity to speak against nuclear power. The worst case scenario would’ve involved a 106-mile radius forced evacuation and a 155-mile radius voluntary evacuation that included Tokyo, Japan’s largest city. That added up to potentially 50 million people being forced from their homes, with dozens of years before rehabitation could be considered. A map shows how large the affected area could've been. Thankfully, Japan was spared from the worst-case scenario. Kan discusses how they narrowly they avoided complete disaster, both because of the hard work of dedicated citizens and luck. Because the disaster almost caused the cultural and economic destruction of his country, Kan has become a vocal opponent of the dependence on nuclear power. His goal is to "realize a nuclear-free Japan and a nuclear-free planet and to pursue an increase in new renewables.” At the time of the incident nuclear reactors were producing about 30% of Japan’s electricity. He called for the elimination of nuclear power usage in Japan by 2030.
My Nuclear Nightmare was originally published in 2012 for a Japanese audience. Prior knowledge about the particulars of Japanese politics and the operation of nuclear power plants would have been helpful. I wasn’t always immediately certain what criticisms were being directed at Kan, so I appreciated the transcript of a press conference later in the book. Kan's account will probably be most interesting for people who were closely following the news about this topic, though it was very educational to me as a casual observer. Despite my gaps in knowledge, I found this intimate account enlightening.
Additional information: 2011 Japan Earthquake - Tsunami Fast Facts (Updated through 2016)
The only other book I've read with a section on nuclear power: Physics for Future Presidents
___________________
I received this book for free from Netgalley and Cornell University Press. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This book will be available for purchase on February 15, 2017.
I could not just sit there and wait for death to come along. I had no choice but to fight. This enemy had not come from outside. It was something we Japanese had created, and we could not run from it.
I’m not extra knowledgeable about Japanese politics or nuclear power, so I’m not going to make a judgment on any of those points. I read this book to learn the behind-the-scenes account of a man who was leading a nation when major disaster struck. Naoto Kan details his handling of the situation, while addressing criticism and attempting to set the record straight on any inaccuracies or miscommunications. A nuclear disaster of this scale was not anticipated and the law did not prepare for this type of situation, so he faced the delicate balance of not overstepping his bounds when dealing with a private company. He describes the challenge of managing multiple disasters while keeping the rest of the country running, as well as the politics that led to his resignation September 2, 2011.
I was fascinated by the inner workings of the government during this time of crisis. For instance, the head of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) was experienced in economics, not nuclear safety. NISA falls under the ministry in charge of promoting the use of nuclear power, creating the potential for conflict of interest. I was shocked when TEPCO considered abandoning the plant, which would have lead to certain disaster. In terms of Kan, I was struck by the loneliness of the job and the pressure of making decisions when every choice has the potential for serious consequences. I was impressed by the spirit of cooperation among the many nations of the world and their commitment to helping Japan get the situation under control.
The horror of a nuclear accident is that time will not take care of it. The more time that passes, the worse it gets. In the case of an accident at a chemical plant, when everything flammable has burned, the fire will go out. But with a nuclear accident there is no extinguishing the flame. And although the hazardous materials given off by a chemical plant may cause significant contamination for a time, this will dissipate in the atmosphere and eventually become harmless. But this is not true of radioactive material. Plutonium has a half-life of 24,000 years.
Besides telling his side of the story, Kan also uses this opportunity to speak against nuclear power. The worst case scenario would’ve involved a 106-mile radius forced evacuation and a 155-mile radius voluntary evacuation that included Tokyo, Japan’s largest city. That added up to potentially 50 million people being forced from their homes, with dozens of years before rehabitation could be considered. A map shows how large the affected area could've been. Thankfully, Japan was spared from the worst-case scenario. Kan discusses how they narrowly they avoided complete disaster, both because of the hard work of dedicated citizens and luck. Because the disaster almost caused the cultural and economic destruction of his country, Kan has become a vocal opponent of the dependence on nuclear power. His goal is to "realize a nuclear-free Japan and a nuclear-free planet and to pursue an increase in new renewables.” At the time of the incident nuclear reactors were producing about 30% of Japan’s electricity. He called for the elimination of nuclear power usage in Japan by 2030.
While we continue to make scientific and technological progress, the abilities of the individual have not evolved a great deal. And as long as that gap exists, there will be occasions when we lose control of science and technology.
My Nuclear Nightmare was originally published in 2012 for a Japanese audience. Prior knowledge about the particulars of Japanese politics and the operation of nuclear power plants would have been helpful. I wasn’t always immediately certain what criticisms were being directed at Kan, so I appreciated the transcript of a press conference later in the book. Kan's account will probably be most interesting for people who were closely following the news about this topic, though it was very educational to me as a casual observer. Despite my gaps in knowledge, I found this intimate account enlightening.
Additional information: 2011 Japan Earthquake - Tsunami Fast Facts (Updated through 2016)
The only other book I've read with a section on nuclear power: Physics for Future Presidents
___________________
I received this book for free from Netgalley and Cornell University Press. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This book will be available for purchase on February 15, 2017.
February 11, 2019
When the Fukushima disaster started unfolding March 11, 2011, I become very interested in the story and followed it for a long time. By chance, I walked passed this book in the library and had to check it out. The book is a unique read written by Naoto Kan, the Prime Minister who led Japan through the Fukushima disaster. The chaos and uncertainty depicted were informative and terrifying. Lack of policy surrounding what to do in case of a meltdown (both at TEPCO and JP government) could have led to dire consequences if not for extreme luck. The book was repetitive at times but was a good read overall. I feel much more informed about the subject and have a deeper appreciation of the severity of the disaster.
February 10, 2021
Really good book! It was a great insider look at the communication between the government and TEPCO. I think the first chapter was very strong and the last two were kind of secondary, though still interesting. The prologue sums everything up, chapter one follows the confusion right after the accident, chapter two follows Kan's struggles and eventual resignation, and chapter three is about alternative energy sources.
When I was living in Japan, Abe was still prime minister so it was cool to learn more about who came before him. Although, because this book was solely from his perspective, I am curious whether there was more to his lack of popularity than what he talked about.
Otherwise, a very interesting book and super helpful to my research!
When I was living in Japan, Abe was still prime minister so it was cool to learn more about who came before him. Although, because this book was solely from his perspective, I am curious whether there was more to his lack of popularity than what he talked about.
Otherwise, a very interesting book and super helpful to my research!
May 23, 2023
While I do not agree with all of Mr. Kan's views, his surprisingly candid recount of the events following the Tōhoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami and nuclear disaster makes for a worthwhile read. While his recount of the catastrophe is enthralling, I found myself just as interested in his thought-provoking discussions about politics and the massive influence of large industrial complexes. This book is a worthy read whether or not one is in favor of nuclear power.
November 15, 2025
this poor man
December 24, 2016
Kan’s nightmare began on March 11, 2011, when a tectonic force so immense that it thrust Japan’s main island eastward by eight feet, sank 250 miles of coast by about two feet, and generated a series of tsunami waves that triggered a nuclear disaster. Naoto Kan, who was the Japan's prime minister at that time, has revealed that the country came within a paper-thin margin of a nuclear disaster requiring the evacuation of 50 million people. Naoto Kan gives a good description on the panic and disarray at the highest levels of the Japanese government, as well as at the plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), as it fought to control multiple meltdowns at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. This books is more of a reply to the criticism of his handling of the crisis and explains how this experience had turned him from a supporter of nuclear power into a convinced opponent.
Though it is sometimes repetitive - even for a short book, it is informative about how factors like the head of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) who has no educational background on nuclear safety, miscommunication or sometimes no communication at all between different agencies can lead to failure. It provides insights into facets like ‘turnkey contract’ – buying a finished product without the actual knowledge of its inner workings and the blacking out some areas of the operation manual to protect intellectual property rights can be a hindrance when disasters occur.
Though it is sometimes repetitive - even for a short book, it is informative about how factors like the head of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) who has no educational background on nuclear safety, miscommunication or sometimes no communication at all between different agencies can lead to failure. It provides insights into facets like ‘turnkey contract’ – buying a finished product without the actual knowledge of its inner workings and the blacking out some areas of the operation manual to protect intellectual property rights can be a hindrance when disasters occur.
April 4, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley!
This book lays out Japan's governmental and TESCO's company response to the earthquake/tsunami and related significant damage to the Fukushima nuclear energy station. Specific details are provided regarding decisions made, timeline, site visits, evacuation planning, and response actions. Prime Minister Kan appeared to be proactive in his approach to the disaster, incisive in his questioning, and proactive in his demand for opinions from experts in the field. I have never understood why our senior officials are not REQUIRED to be experts in the fields handled by the agencies they lead. Nan frequently appears defensive in the writing, and that was somewhat distracting. I admit, though, that I was not intimately aware of what was happening at the time, and there probably was more rumor and criticism than I am aware of. It seems that Nan was proactive in his responses, and I can agree that Japan may not want to pursue nuclear power based on its small size and location on the ring of fire. However, I have long been a supporter of nuclear power and reprocessing, and I don't think eliminating its use elsewhere is appropriate or necessary. Recommended reading if you are interested in man-made disasters, emergency response, energy, and nuclear power.
This book lays out Japan's governmental and TESCO's company response to the earthquake/tsunami and related significant damage to the Fukushima nuclear energy station. Specific details are provided regarding decisions made, timeline, site visits, evacuation planning, and response actions. Prime Minister Kan appeared to be proactive in his approach to the disaster, incisive in his questioning, and proactive in his demand for opinions from experts in the field. I have never understood why our senior officials are not REQUIRED to be experts in the fields handled by the agencies they lead. Nan frequently appears defensive in the writing, and that was somewhat distracting. I admit, though, that I was not intimately aware of what was happening at the time, and there probably was more rumor and criticism than I am aware of. It seems that Nan was proactive in his responses, and I can agree that Japan may not want to pursue nuclear power based on its small size and location on the ring of fire. However, I have long been a supporter of nuclear power and reprocessing, and I don't think eliminating its use elsewhere is appropriate or necessary. Recommended reading if you are interested in man-made disasters, emergency response, energy, and nuclear power.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews