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On the Brink: The Inside Story of Fukushima Daiichi
March 11, 2011.The Tōhoku earthquake struck just before three on a Friday afternoon. Massive earthquake damage was followed by tsunami rising to heights of 40 meters that swept 10km inland, scouring the land of homes, schools, communities, and people. The earthquake and tsunami alone were disasters of incredible proportion, resulting in over 15,000 deaths, over 100,000 buildings destroyed, and economic losses estimated as high as $235 billion by the World Bank.And that was only the natural disaster.
The manmade disaster began the same day, as the tsunami swept over the seawall of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, flooding the facility and destroying much of its equipment, including its onsite emergency power generators. Cut off from all external power sources, the reactors and spent fuel-rod assemblies began to overheat.Three reactors suffered meltdowns. Hydrogen gas explosions blew apart the outer containment buildings on three reactors. And the world watched as Japan struggled to bring the situation under control before the worst scenario came to pass.Despite further natural and manmade obstacles, the men and women at the plant succeeded in their efforts, gradually bringing the reactors under control, restoring power, and edging back, one inch at a time, from the very brink of disaster.This is their story, based on extensive interviews with the people who fought and won that battle, and especially with Masao Yoshida, the man who drove them all to get the job done.
Here at last is the inside story of what they faced, what resources and information they had to work with, and why they made the decisions they did.
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Ken Watanabe and directed by Setsuro Wakamatsu!
The manmade disaster began the same day, as the tsunami swept over the seawall of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, flooding the facility and destroying much of its equipment, including its onsite emergency power generators. Cut off from all external power sources, the reactors and spent fuel-rod assemblies began to overheat.Three reactors suffered meltdowns. Hydrogen gas explosions blew apart the outer containment buildings on three reactors. And the world watched as Japan struggled to bring the situation under control before the worst scenario came to pass.Despite further natural and manmade obstacles, the men and women at the plant succeeded in their efforts, gradually bringing the reactors under control, restoring power, and edging back, one inch at a time, from the very brink of disaster.This is their story, based on extensive interviews with the people who fought and won that battle, and especially with Masao Yoshida, the man who drove them all to get the job done.
Here at last is the inside story of what they faced, what resources and information they had to work with, and why they made the decisions they did.
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Ken Watanabe and directed by Setsuro Wakamatsu!
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2012
143 people are currently reading
560 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 26, 2015
It's frightening how, despite involving incidents decades apart in vastly different cultures, many of the problems identified in this book are the same as the ones that Eric Schlosser found cropping up in the Damascus accident. In both cases, engineers on the scene had a fair idea what needed to be done to get everything under control, but they had to wait for permission from higher-ups, who got into debates over what course of action to take, hampered by an incomplete or garbled understanding about what was going on on the ground. At both Fukushima and Damascus, the nature of the accident rendered instruments inoperative and limited the ability of those on site to make repairs. The situation in Fukushima was worse in this regard since, instead of everything being confined to a single, military hierarchy, both the government and a private corporation were involved, and both had other considerations in mind.
While there've been several books published on the Fukushima disaster, this one is notable for being based almost exclusively on interviews conducted with those involved, with technical details kept to a minimum. This does prove to be a shortcoming in one way -- while several government ministers and advisers, including Prime Minister Kan himself, granted the author interviews, as did employees of the plant, apparently none of the higher-ups at TEPCO were willing to talk with him, creating a huge blind spot. We get enough information from other sources to see that upper management was criminally incompetent (they dragged their feet, for instance, on sending additional radiation suits to the plant to replace those that had been contaminated, telling the plant manager to make do with what was available on site), but it would've been nice to see what was actually going on at corporate headquarters and how they were making their decisions. Still, given how incompetent PM Kan comes off, despite giving his own version of events, it's not surprising that TEPCO officials would avoid the author. Nor, given the long-standing rumors that TEPCO is a branch of the Yakuza, is it surprising the author would want to avoid too much prying into the upper management of the company.
But while that blindspot is unfortunate, the book is still more than worth reading for the detailed, first-hand accounts of what happened in the control room during the disaster, and the honest assessment of how much worse it could have been.
While there've been several books published on the Fukushima disaster, this one is notable for being based almost exclusively on interviews conducted with those involved, with technical details kept to a minimum. This does prove to be a shortcoming in one way -- while several government ministers and advisers, including Prime Minister Kan himself, granted the author interviews, as did employees of the plant, apparently none of the higher-ups at TEPCO were willing to talk with him, creating a huge blind spot. We get enough information from other sources to see that upper management was criminally incompetent (they dragged their feet, for instance, on sending additional radiation suits to the plant to replace those that had been contaminated, telling the plant manager to make do with what was available on site), but it would've been nice to see what was actually going on at corporate headquarters and how they were making their decisions. Still, given how incompetent PM Kan comes off, despite giving his own version of events, it's not surprising that TEPCO officials would avoid the author. Nor, given the long-standing rumors that TEPCO is a branch of the Yakuza, is it surprising the author would want to avoid too much prying into the upper management of the company.
But while that blindspot is unfortunate, the book is still more than worth reading for the detailed, first-hand accounts of what happened in the control room during the disaster, and the honest assessment of how much worse it could have been.
September 20, 2019
Good, but a bit uneven--
The stories of the people who prevented the worst possible consequences at the Fukushima nuclear power plants are on the whole well told and quite moving, especially when the core members (including the director, Yoshida) decide to stay behind to continue working, knowing they'd die. I also liked I was able to understand the perspectives of the politicians and experts who seemed, at the time of the accident, seemed less than competent. But the book loses steam and focus toward the end—I would've appreciated some more details on what happened at each stage and what happened afterwards (and what's happening now).
On the whole, a good book about something everyone in Japan should know.
The stories of the people who prevented the worst possible consequences at the Fukushima nuclear power plants are on the whole well told and quite moving, especially when the core members (including the director, Yoshida) decide to stay behind to continue working, knowing they'd die. I also liked I was able to understand the perspectives of the politicians and experts who seemed, at the time of the accident, seemed less than competent. But the book loses steam and focus toward the end—I would've appreciated some more details on what happened at each stage and what happened afterwards (and what's happening now).
On the whole, a good book about something everyone in Japan should know.
April 21, 2024
It was everything I wanted to know and perhaps beyond my emotional understanding of the onsite TOPECO people.
December 25, 2023
Humbling
When I watched "The Days", I was curious to know if Yoshida san really pulled his trousers down to show the prime minister, his backside. This book has the answer. The Days is based on this book and Yoshida's testimony.
The language used shows the tremendous sense of obligation the Japanese have towards their job, their community and the nation.
It tells you how a particularly impatient prime minister could delay rescue efforts - they couldn't get the order to evacuate signed given the prime minister's impulsive nature that took him to Fukushima Daiichi so he could ask them why they were delaying the "vent". If only he knew they were waiting for the evacuation order that needed his signature.
There are some touching stories in there.
This book could have done with a better editor. It maybe the translation, but this book could have been a few chapters shorter. But it is never boring.
When I watched "The Days", I was curious to know if Yoshida san really pulled his trousers down to show the prime minister, his backside. This book has the answer. The Days is based on this book and Yoshida's testimony.
The language used shows the tremendous sense of obligation the Japanese have towards their job, their community and the nation.
It tells you how a particularly impatient prime minister could delay rescue efforts - they couldn't get the order to evacuate signed given the prime minister's impulsive nature that took him to Fukushima Daiichi so he could ask them why they were delaying the "vent". If only he knew they were waiting for the evacuation order that needed his signature.
There are some touching stories in there.
This book could have done with a better editor. It maybe the translation, but this book could have been a few chapters shorter. But it is never boring.
June 21, 2022
I have watched about this disaster in the news but it's nothing like reading about it and learning more details. The book is thrilling in a way that the reader will feel afraid about the disaster that's looming in the corner. I didn't realize how close it was to being something that's even worse than Chernobyl. As much as it's frightening, it is also inspiring to read about the heroes who risked their lives just to avoid a bigger disaster. I have the highest regards and respect for those selfless people who did what they had to do even it means giving up their own lives.
Overall, there are a lot of things that you will learn when you read this book. I am fascinated about nuclear energy but I can't really understand the most complex concepts so I am glad to have found something that speaks my language but doesn't diminish the events.
Overall, there are a lot of things that you will learn when you read this book. I am fascinated about nuclear energy but I can't really understand the most complex concepts so I am glad to have found something that speaks my language but doesn't diminish the events.
January 15, 2015
I remember being riveted to the news when the events in this book were taking place. While being absorbed in the technical details of what was happening, I had always wondered about the workers who stayed at the site, at great personal risk. This book attempts to tell that story. The book covers the first week of the disaster from the perspectives of a handful of employees. The author does a good job of describing the tension and confusion at the site, as radiation levels rise and supplies dwindle. It didn't come off as overly melodramatic. This book doesn't tell the whole story of Fukushima. That isn't its intent. This adds dimension and background to a complex story. I enjoyed it for what it was. This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
October 7, 2020
[Disclosure: I am the translator.]
Here's the Japan Times review of the Japanese original Kadota Ryūshō's 「死の淵を見た男」 that impelled me to translate this book into English.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/201...
Any failures in the English version are mine.
As far as factual content goes, bear in mind that Kadota's book was published only 18 months after the event. Much more has been revealed since then.
I am posting updates on different aspects at the book's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/fukushimadis...
There is also a Google map of relevant sites here:
http://tinyurl.com/onthebrinkmap
Please feel free to add questions and comments there too.
SPV
Here's the Japan Times review of the Japanese original Kadota Ryūshō's 「死の淵を見た男」 that impelled me to translate this book into English.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/201...
Any failures in the English version are mine.
As far as factual content goes, bear in mind that Kadota's book was published only 18 months after the event. Much more has been revealed since then.
I am posting updates on different aspects at the book's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/fukushimadis...
There is also a Google map of relevant sites here:
http://tinyurl.com/onthebrinkmap
Please feel free to add questions and comments there too.
SPV
April 12, 2024
Extraordinary story
I enjoyed the Netflix series based on this book but it wasn't always easy to follow what was happening. The book explains it better. It's incredible what ordinary people had to go through just in what started as a normal working day. Some were prepared to die to save the country and a few did.
I enjoyed the Netflix series based on this book but it wasn't always easy to follow what was happening. The book explains it better. It's incredible what ordinary people had to go through just in what started as a normal working day. Some were prepared to die to save the country and a few did.
May 6, 2021
Bought this one after we watched Chernobyl on Sky. Realise I'm a bit of a junky for these catastrophe stories. And now Amazon won't stop marketing them to me - you might also like the Herald of Free Enterprise, Piper Alpha, some more Chernobyl…
Anyway, this one's genuinely terrifying. A non-fiction chronology of the chaos, heroism, grief, and the unvarying tick-tock of near-panic and existential dread as time passes, reactors get hotter and more radioactive... The sense of duty that motivated all the engineers, scientists and workers who laboured inside the exclusion zone and inside the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant itself to prevent the ultimate nuclear catastrophe is awe-inspiring.
I learn from this book, which is written (or translated?) in an intriguing, slightly naive style (lots of exclamation marks!) by a local journalist, that, although only two people died inside the plant as a direct result of the Tsunami and a handful more as a result of radiation, the outcome could have been immeasurably worse. One of the engineers involved says they narrowly avoided a disaster on the scale of "ten Chernobyls" (there are six reactors on the Fukushima site, all of which would have gone critical, plus those at a nearby plant that would also have had to be abandoned). And the level of institutional inertia plus actual stupidity and venality on the part of companies and politicians involved is grimly instructive.
But the men who stayed inside the plant's control room and vowed, collectively, to die before they abandoned the plant, are an amazing lot. Mostly middle-aged (all the young workers are sent away early on because they're considered to be more vulnerable to the radiation), they're locked into what I assume is a very Japanese sense of the importance of hierarchy and a deference that's kind of touching (a senior engineer will defer to a friend and colleague who was in the year above him at school, for instance, and the country's Prime Minister pulls rank over the plant chief because he got a better degree).
Aspects of the nuclear power system described were clearly so bound up in tradition and habit that it actually impeded the response to the catastrophe. In the middle of what was quickly becoming a meltdown, for instance, everything stops for an official visit by the Prime Minister. The PM's own science background causes him to interfere in the response too, over-riding even experienced nuclear engineers at the plant (there's a bit of dramatic shouting and desk bashing here).
If there's a film or a Netflix series about the catastrophe (maybe it's too soon) this book will become the key source for the writers. All the characters are here - the brave firemen, pumping sea water to cool the reactors with no protection; the personnel manager who risks her life by staying in the radiocative plant to support the recovery teams; the men who volunteered to enter the damaged buildings in pairs to manually open valves when the power failed; and, of course, the cool-headed plant boss - Masao Yoshida - who will definitely be the hero of the series.
Anyway, this one's genuinely terrifying. A non-fiction chronology of the chaos, heroism, grief, and the unvarying tick-tock of near-panic and existential dread as time passes, reactors get hotter and more radioactive... The sense of duty that motivated all the engineers, scientists and workers who laboured inside the exclusion zone and inside the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant itself to prevent the ultimate nuclear catastrophe is awe-inspiring.
I learn from this book, which is written (or translated?) in an intriguing, slightly naive style (lots of exclamation marks!) by a local journalist, that, although only two people died inside the plant as a direct result of the Tsunami and a handful more as a result of radiation, the outcome could have been immeasurably worse. One of the engineers involved says they narrowly avoided a disaster on the scale of "ten Chernobyls" (there are six reactors on the Fukushima site, all of which would have gone critical, plus those at a nearby plant that would also have had to be abandoned). And the level of institutional inertia plus actual stupidity and venality on the part of companies and politicians involved is grimly instructive.
But the men who stayed inside the plant's control room and vowed, collectively, to die before they abandoned the plant, are an amazing lot. Mostly middle-aged (all the young workers are sent away early on because they're considered to be more vulnerable to the radiation), they're locked into what I assume is a very Japanese sense of the importance of hierarchy and a deference that's kind of touching (a senior engineer will defer to a friend and colleague who was in the year above him at school, for instance, and the country's Prime Minister pulls rank over the plant chief because he got a better degree).
Aspects of the nuclear power system described were clearly so bound up in tradition and habit that it actually impeded the response to the catastrophe. In the middle of what was quickly becoming a meltdown, for instance, everything stops for an official visit by the Prime Minister. The PM's own science background causes him to interfere in the response too, over-riding even experienced nuclear engineers at the plant (there's a bit of dramatic shouting and desk bashing here).
If there's a film or a Netflix series about the catastrophe (maybe it's too soon) this book will become the key source for the writers. All the characters are here - the brave firemen, pumping sea water to cool the reactors with no protection; the personnel manager who risks her life by staying in the radiocative plant to support the recovery teams; the men who volunteered to enter the damaged buildings in pairs to manually open valves when the power failed; and, of course, the cool-headed plant boss - Masao Yoshida - who will definitely be the hero of the series.
January 31, 2024
I've always wanted to read this book, but a big reading slump hindered my progress and it took me a good one year to get through.
Now, I can say that it was worth the read.
The extent of the disaster, which is often described as one of the deadliest nuclear accidents after Chornobyl, is well known, and there is no need to reiterate.
That said, however, this book reveals the true extent of the damage caused by the massive tsunami, and the ensuing battle against the three raging reactors.
I was particularly struck by the descriptions of the "Fukushima 50," the courageous power plant operators' struggles and their inner thoughts - fear, despair, jubilation, and so on. Although this story has been made into a film and a Netflix drama series, there is only so much that can be conveyed through images. In that sense, this book provides a great insight into what they were thinking amid their fierce struggle against the impending crisis.
The last part of the book felt a bit redundant personally, but it's each to their own.
I would recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in knowing what happened at the FDI nuclear power plant, and I am glad I read it.
Now, I can say that it was worth the read.
The extent of the disaster, which is often described as one of the deadliest nuclear accidents after Chornobyl, is well known, and there is no need to reiterate.
That said, however, this book reveals the true extent of the damage caused by the massive tsunami, and the ensuing battle against the three raging reactors.
I was particularly struck by the descriptions of the "Fukushima 50," the courageous power plant operators' struggles and their inner thoughts - fear, despair, jubilation, and so on. Although this story has been made into a film and a Netflix drama series, there is only so much that can be conveyed through images. In that sense, this book provides a great insight into what they were thinking amid their fierce struggle against the impending crisis.
The last part of the book felt a bit redundant personally, but it's each to their own.
I would recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in knowing what happened at the FDI nuclear power plant, and I am glad I read it.
June 18, 2025
Ryusho Kadota delivers a raw minute-by-minute account of the Fukushima disaster that is well-explained and deeply emotional.
What struck me most was the incredible sense of duty shown by the engineers and workers —especially Masao Yoshida (may he rest in peace) and his team — who risked everything to prevent an even worse outcome.
I was afraid that the technical jargon would complicate the reading, but everything was explained in clear, simple sentences and the English-translated version (which was the only one I read so I cannot compare it with the original) was perfectly clear. However, this book was not about the technicalities. The focus here was on the stories of the people who witnessed this catastrophe, the sacrifices made, the homes and people lost.
Though nature’s power will always remind us of our fragility, the force of human resilience can rise just as fiercely.
What struck me most was the incredible sense of duty shown by the engineers and workers —especially Masao Yoshida (may he rest in peace) and his team — who risked everything to prevent an even worse outcome.
I was afraid that the technical jargon would complicate the reading, but everything was explained in clear, simple sentences and the English-translated version (which was the only one I read so I cannot compare it with the original) was perfectly clear. However, this book was not about the technicalities. The focus here was on the stories of the people who witnessed this catastrophe, the sacrifices made, the homes and people lost.
Though nature’s power will always remind us of our fragility, the force of human resilience can rise just as fiercely.
May 11, 2023
ফুকশিমা পারমানবিক বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র হটাৎ করেই সুনামির কবলে পড়ে পাওয়ার সাপ্লাই হারিয়ে ফেলার পর কয়েকজন অসহায় মানুষের নিউক্লিয়ার ডিসাস্টার ঠেকানোর সংগ্রাম নিয়ে বইটি। চিফ ইঞ্জিনিয়ার ইয়শিদা এবং ইউনিট সুপারভাইজার ইজাওয়ার সাহসিকতা এবং প্রজ্ঞা যদিও শেষ রক্ষা করতে পারেনি তবে তাদের অক্লান্ত প্রচেষ্টা আরো বড় ভবিতব্য দুর্যোগ রুখে দিতে সক্ষম হয়। লেখক খুব সহজ ভাষায় রিয়েক্টর রিলেটেড অনেক কঠিন কঠিন জিনিস ব্যাখ্যা করেছেন যা সত্যিই প্রশংসার দাবিদার। জাপানি অনুবাদের ইংরেজি অনেক সহজ ছিল বিধায় পড়তে কোনো অসুবিধা লাগে নি। সহজ ভাষায় লেখা সুন্দর একটি বই।
October 31, 2023
A good account of the Fukushima disaster, which so nearly became a much bigger catastrophe, which was avoided by the heroic efforts of many, which forms the core of this book. A very strong sense of Japanese culture also comes across. Essential reading for anyone interested in the consequences of the Faustian bargain we have made, in pursuit of "keeping the lights on".
January 3, 2024
Thought Provoking and Devotion to Duty
A very interesting and detailed account of the massive earthquake nd subsequent Tsunami that crippled the nuclear plant at Fukushima. I am amazed at the bravery and determination displayed by the teams of workers who risked their lives to prevent an even bigger catastrophe
A very interesting and detailed account of the massive earthquake nd subsequent Tsunami that crippled the nuclear plant at Fukushima. I am amazed at the bravery and determination displayed by the teams of workers who risked their lives to prevent an even bigger catastrophe
August 16, 2017
Probably not good intro
This book probably requires a more closely grained knowledge of the people and context surrounding the Fukushima disaster to get the most out of it and would be best read after getting a working knowledge of events.
This book probably requires a more closely grained knowledge of the people and context surrounding the Fukushima disaster to get the most out of it and would be best read after getting a working knowledge of events.
March 21, 2021
Well written overview
A well written overview of the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Complex. The author presents a detailed chronology of events as witnessed by the engineers and technicians in their futile attempt to prevent core meltdowns in multiple reactors.
A well written overview of the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Complex. The author presents a detailed chronology of events as witnessed by the engineers and technicians in their futile attempt to prevent core meltdowns in multiple reactors.
December 17, 2024
Incredible. I really savoured reading this, it’s not only incredibly interesting but absolutely inspiring. The people who were involved in stopping “Chernobyl-times-ten” are truly superheroes and to read some of their story really goes to show, humans are capable of some incredible things.
September 4, 2025
Having watched the Netflix show about this disaster, I wanted to read about it in more detail. It was a very interesting book. I'm not sure if it was how it was translated, but it did repeat itself a lot, which sometimes made it a bit dull. It's definitely worth a read though!
June 23, 2020
insightful .... but a bit of a tedious read
November 22, 2023
IMO, this is the type of books that people should read if they wanna develop leadership skills
Read
July 24, 2024Otima descrição literaria do evento,
em conformidade com os historicos pela Nuclear agency,
deu vida a serie da netflix 3days
em conformidade com os historicos pela Nuclear agency,
deu vida a serie da netflix 3days
December 8, 2024
not a story of a disaster. a story of humans and heroism.
February 21, 2017
يتناول الكتاب حادثة محطة فوكوشيما النووية رقم 1 – إثر أقوى زلزال شهدته اليابان متبوعا بأمواج تسونامي عارمة – بأسلوب صحفي. حيث إنه عبارة عن مجموعة مقابلات أجراها المؤلف ريوشو كادوتا مع أشخاص عاشوا الحادثة وكانوا أطرافا فيها تأثرا وتأثيرا.
يسرد علينا الكاتب القصة منتقلا من شخصية إلى أخرى مبرزا الجوانب الإنسانية، والصعوبات التي واجهها العاملون في المحطة خصوصا أثناء تعاملهم مع هذه الكارثة غير المسبوقة وغير المتوقعة. مع إعطاء شرح لا بأس به عن النواحي التقنية والفنية لعمل المفاعلات وما الذي أصابها.
الكتاب مرتب زمنيا – بالساعات والدقائق – من قبيل وقوع الزلزال إلى ما تلاه من الأيام الأُوَل، وإن كان في أجزاء منه يرجع قليلا أو يتقدم قليلا، وكأنك تشاهد فيلما سينمائيا وكل مشهد فيه يكون مقرونا بتوقيت معين.
استمتعت كثيرا بقراءة الكتاب وأحسست بالجوانب الإنسانية فيه ... بل عايشتها!!
يسرد علينا الكاتب القصة منتقلا من شخصية إلى أخرى مبرزا الجوانب الإنسانية، والصعوبات التي واجهها العاملون في المحطة خصوصا أثناء تعاملهم مع هذه الكارثة غير المسبوقة وغير المتوقعة. مع إعطاء شرح لا بأس به عن النواحي التقنية والفنية لعمل المفاعلات وما الذي أصابها.
الكتاب مرتب زمنيا – بالساعات والدقائق – من قبيل وقوع الزلزال إلى ما تلاه من الأيام الأُوَل، وإن كان في أجزاء منه يرجع قليلا أو يتقدم قليلا، وكأنك تشاهد فيلما سينمائيا وكل مشهد فيه يكون مقرونا بتوقيت معين.
استمتعت كثيرا بقراءة الكتاب وأحسست بالجوانب الإنسانية فيه ... بل عايشتها!!
November 24, 2025
Very insightful.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews