Nuclear Nation: Surviving Fukushima 2013
Distributed by First Run Features, 630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036; 212-243-0600
Produced by Yoshiko Hashimoto
Directed by Atsushi Funahashi
DVD, color, 96 min.
High School - General Adult
Nuclear Accidents, Japan, Nuclear Power Plants, Disaster Relief, Disaster Victims Futaba-gun, Nuclear Energy
Date Entered: 07/01/2015
Reviewed by Michael Fein, Coordinator of Library Services, Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg, VAThough it occurred only four years ago, the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan seem almost like ancient history, except for those who survived and especially for those who lived in the vicinity of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. This production looks at the impact of the disaster on the residents living in the vicinity of the power plant. Much of the focus is on the mayor of the village and a number of the residents, all of whom were evacuated and still unable to return home permanently. They are refugees in a prosperous country and are quite fed up with dealing with what is perceived as an unresponsive and uncaring government. The residents even go to Tokyo to protest and meet with politicians, who seem to be, well, they are politicians. The film covers approximately one year in their lives and we see how the official number of refugees being housed in a school goes down over time. The patience and resiliency of these people is remarkable. Collections in Japanese studies and nuclear energy should acquire.