‘#Fukushima: A #Nuclear Nightmare’ Review: An Emotional Choice

This documentary offers a rundown of the 2011 nuclear meltdown with special attention to the shift workers who risked their lives while trying to stabilize the plant.

March 10, 2026

" 'We were told Japan would cease to exist if we failed.' On #March11, 2011, a 8.9-magnitude #earthquake and a #tsunami struck the northeast coast of #Japan, precipitating a series of hydrogen explosions at the #FukushimaDaiichi nuclear plant.

"The new HBO documentary 'Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare,' directed by James Jones ('#Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes'), offers a tense rundown of the aftermath by pairing archival footage with testimonies from the people who witnessed the events firsthand.

"In the days following the earthquake and tsunami, workers at the plant hurried to contain what they knew could become a #NuclearCatastrophe. Using diagrams, the documentary strives to convey the dangers on an elementary-school level: Without electricity, the reactors’ cooling systems failed, causing the fuel rods to melt and spew radioactive material. The schematics are paired with a tense score and sinister-looking footage of fiery explosions.

"In an emotional interview, an engineer named #IkuoIzawa recalls remaining on-site while the majority of the plant’s crew was evacuated. Knowing that he might not survive, he sent an email to his family members, imploring them to look after one another. Izawa became part of the #Fukushima50: the everyday shift workers who risked their lives for the welfare of Japan. Although chiefly a straightforward — and at points repetitive — synopsis of the events, 'Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare' distinguishes itself in its devotion to elevating these men as heroes."

Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare
Directed by James Jones∙
Documentary∙
Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes. Streaming on HBO Max.

Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/movies/fukushima-a-nuclear-nightmare-review.html

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/eTbOo

#NoNukes #RethinkNotRestart #FukushimaDocumentary #Remember311 #FukushimaIsntOver

SimplyInfo.org: 15th Anniversary Report #FukushimaDaiichi

March 2, 2026

Excerpt: "This TV Asahi investigative report from March 2025 [linked below] paints a sobering picture of the enormous challenges still facing the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi, fourteen years after the accident. While #TEPCO achieved a milestone the previous November by extracting roughly 0.7 grams of #NuclearFuel debris for the first time, experts interviewed for the piece emphasized that debris removal is just one piece of a far more complex puzzle. Around 1,000 fuel assemblies
still remain in the spent fuel pools of Units 1 and 2, untouched since the accident, and officials from the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation (#NDF) described clearing these pools as the single most urgent priority — in part because another
#earthquake or #tsunami could strike at any time.

"Before large-scale debris removal can even begin, the area around the reactor buildings must be cleared of heavily contaminated structures and exhaust stacks to make room for the massive equipment required. Because humans cannot safely approach the highly radioactive debris, all removal work must be done remotely. Radiation levels outside the buildings remain dangerously high — a dosimeter near #Unit2 showed particularly elevated readings — and contaminated water continues to be generated at a rate of roughly 80 tons per day as #rainwater and #groundwater contact radioactive materials on site, despite TEPCO having already released about 80,000 tons of treated [but still radioactive] water into the ocean.

"Perhaps the most troubling concern raised in the article is what happens to the debris and #RadioactiveWaste after it is removed. Hiroshi Miyano, chairman of the Decommissioning Review Committee of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan, was blunt in his criticism, saying no serious thought has been given to managing this waste over the coming century or two.

"The Fukushima debris is uniquely complicated because it is a mixture of melted nuclear fuel and structural materials, and experts warned that removal may not even be possible until a concrete disposal plan is in place. General decommissioning superintendent Toyoshi Fukada warned that without proper storage facilities ready in advance, the entire decommissioning effort could eventually grind to a halt simply because there would be nowhere to put the waste."

Read more:
https://simplyinfo.org/2026/03/simplyinfo-org-15th-anniversary-report-fukushima-daiichi/

Asashi investigative report [pdf]:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ysaf6a7hj62286sv4hoql/alps_water_d250130_14-j_translated.pdf?rlkey=3u397ndoafdtiq6fgjczg4a74&st=845tdf30&dl=0

#FukushimaIsntOver #TEPCOLies #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukes #NoNukesForAI #RenewablesNow #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #NuclearPlants #NuclearDisaster #Remember311

Unfortunately, the #FukushimaDiary website seems to have been locked down. This was one of the last articles posted by #Mochizuki (on December 7, 2025).

#TEPCO Downgrades Thermometers After 80°C Spike, But Data Suggests a Systemic Issue

"TEPCO recently reported that a thermometer in #FukushimaDaiichi’s Reactor 1 recorded an unexpected 80°C temperature increase following nitrogen injection into the primary containment vessel (#PCV). Initially, this raised concerns about a possible heat source inside the containment vessel .

"However, after an internal review, TEPCO concluded that the reading did not reflect an actual temperature increase, attributing it to instrument malfunction. As a result, they downgraded multiple thermometers to “reference use” and removed them from official monitoring .
Contradictions in TEPCO’s Explanation

"TEPCO’s official report claims that the 80°C spike was a sensor anomaly, yet the data contradicts this conclusion..."

https://web.archive.org/web/20251207175303/https://fukushima-diary.com/2025/03/tepco-downgrades-thermometers-after-80c-spike-but-data-suggests-a-systemic-issue/

#RethinkNotRestart #NoMoreFukushimas #TEPCOLies #KEPCOLies #NoNukes #FukushimaIsntOver #WaterIsLife
#OceansAreLife #Radiation #NuclearWasteIsForever

Imagine that... A #nuclear plant operator that LIES!!!

Japan’s nuclear watchdog halts plant’s reactor safety screening over falsified data

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Updated 8:31 AM EST, January 7, 2026

TOKYO (AP) — "Japan’s #nuclear watchdog said Wednesday it is scrapping the safety screening for two reactors at the #HamaokaNuclearPowerPlant in central Japan, after its operator was found to have fabricated data about #earthquake risks.

"It was a setback to Japan’s attempts to accelerate nuclear reactor restarts. Less than a quarter of commercial nuclear reactors are operational in the wake of the 2011 #FukushimaDaiichi meltdowns, but rising energy costs and pressure to reduce carbon emissions have pushed the government to prioritize nuclear power.

"#ChubuElectricPowerCo. had applied for safety screening to resume operations at the No. 3 and 4 reactors at the Hamaoka plant in 2014 and 2015. Two other reactors at the plant are being decommissioned, and a fifth is idle.

"The plant, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of #Tokyo, is located on a coastal area known for potential risks from so-called #NankaiTrough #megaquakes."

Read more:
https://apnews.com/article/japan-hamaoka-nuclear-fabrication-data-893d7cf94e790ffb51cb1cf85254d658

#ChudenLies #TEPCOLies #KEPCOLies #RethinkNotRestart #NoMoreFukushimas #NoNukes #FukushimaIsntOver #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #Radiation #NuclearWasteIsForever

From my friend in Japan...

Two years after the release of treated water at the #FukushimaDaiichi #nuclear power plant began, more than a hundred thousand tons were washed into the sea, but new #contaminated water is occurring every day

August 24, 2025 at 06:00

"It has been two years since the ocean release of treated water accumulated at the #TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant began. The radioactive substance #tritium remains in the water even after the purification process. In June, China, which completely stopped importing Japanese seafood, resumed production in 37 prefectures, but Fukushima and other ten prefectures are still not eligible. There is no end to the ocean release, and the impact of the nuclear accident on the fishing industry continues.

"Tank treated water and contaminated water have been reduced by only fifty-six thousand tons.

"The ocean release was first released on August 24th, and the 14th time was launched on August 7th this month. Up to the 13th time, a total of one hundred and eighty-seven tons of treated water were released.

"The treated water and contaminated water stored in a tank on the site of the nuclear power plant before it was released into the ocean. So far, it has decreased to about fifty-six thousand tons, and it has not decreased by much the amount of release. The reason is that the contaminated water is generated about seventy tons every day, and the number of groundwater and rainwater increases due to the contact of molten nuclear fuel (debris) in the reactor building. Without the absence of contaminated water, we cannot stop releasing it into the ocean.

"As of July 30th, TEPCO paid about JPY790 billion in compensation in response to the slump in fish prices associated with ocean release. There is a possibility that some of China's resumption of imports will also change the price of fish, but Fukushima Prefecture continues to be stopped.

"37 Export application procedures for fishery products produced in Hokkaido Prefecture have begun. A person in charge of the processing and distribution section of the Fisheries Agency said, 'There are many applications, and the desire to resume is strong. We will continue to work with China to reopen the ten prefectures.' Riki Arai)

"The place where the 'sludge' due to the treatment of contaminated water is about to be full.

"Two years have passed since the release of treated water into the ocean due to the TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. The treated water stored in the nuclear power plant is gradually reduced by ocean release, while the storage and disposal of sludge contaminated with high concentrations that continue to occur in the process of treatment of contaminated water is becoming an issue.

"In the process of removing radioactive substances from contaminated water, sludge is produced by precipitating impurities with chemicals. Liquids and solids are mixed... " [Unfortunately, the rest is behind paywall]

Source:
https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/430612

#FukushimaIsntOver #TEPCOLied #TEPCOLies #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #WaterContamination #Radiation #Bioaccumulation #NoRadioactiveDumping #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukes #NoMoreFukushimas #NuclearWasteIsForever

#FukushimaNuclearPlant clean-up faces yet another delay

Story by Mari Yamaguchi, July 29, 2025

"The full-scale removal of melted nuclear fuel from the #tsunami-wrecked #FukushimaDaiichi power plant has been delayed by several years, with the operator now targeting 2037 or later for the crucial operation.

"Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (#TEPCO) announced the setback on Tuesday, underscoring the immense challenges still facing the site.

"TEPCO stated that 12 to 15 years of preparation are required before commencing full-scale debris removal at the No. 3 reactor, involving radiation reduction and facility construction.

"An estimated 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel and structural debris remain within the three reactors that suffered meltdowns following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

"This latest delay further jeopardises the Japanese government and TEPCO's existing 2051 target for decommissioning the plant.

"A test retrieval of a small fuel sample in November was already three years behind schedule, with some experts suggesting the entire #decommissioning process could extend beyond a century.

"TEPCO said it plans to stick to the current completion target of 2051.

" 'Realistically, we are aware of the difficulty (to achieve the target) but we will not drop the goal just yet, as we still don't have a clear work schedule after the full-scale removal begins,' said Akira Ono, chief decommissioning officer at TEPCO.

"Ono said TEPCO plans to examine preparation work necessary at the two other reactors within the next couple of years ahead of full-scale melted fuel retrieval.

"After small missions by robots [that were fried by radiation] to gather samples, experts will determine a larger-scale method for removing melted fuel, first at the No. 3 reactor.

"In May, Japan announced plans to use slightly radioactive soil, stored near Fukushima nuclear plant, for flower beds outside Prime Minister #ShigeruIshiba’s office. [Maybe put more waste there as well! Useless politicians! Who have access to #PrussianBlue pills which remove #Cesium137 from one's body!]

"The move is intended to demonstrate the safety of reusing soil that was removed from Fukushima prefecture during decontamination efforts following the 2011 nuclear disaster. Officials say that some of the soil has now reached levels deemed safe for reuse." [Using faulty dosimeters, I'll wager!]

https://apnews.com/article/japan-fukushima-nuclear-plant-decommissioning-meltdown-fd41d18eac406d7ffc7afb2785f1fa63

#NoNukes #NoNukesForAI #TEPCOLies #RethinkNotRestart #FukushimaIsntOver
#NuclearPowerPlants #NuclearWaste #NuclearPowerNoThanks #NuclearPowerCorruptionAndLies

#Japan's #Fukushima #nuclear wastewater 'pose major #environmental, #HumanRights risks' - UN experts

20 May 2025

"The United Nations (UN) human rights experts have written to the Japanese government to express their concerns about the release of more than one million metric tonnes of treated nuclear wastewater into the #PacificOcean.

"In August 2023, Japan began discharging wastewaster from about 1000 storage tanks of contaminated water collected after the earthquake and tsunami in 2011 that caused the meltdown of its Fukushima nuclear plant.

"In the formal communication, available publicly, UN Human Rights Council special rappoteurs addressed the the management of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS)-treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS) by the Japan government and TEPCO (Tokio Electric Power), and the ongoing discharge of such waters into the Pacific Ocean.

"They said 'we are alarmed that the implementation of contaminated water release operations of into the ocean may pose major environmental and human rights risks, exposing people, especially children, to threats of further contamination in Japan and beyond.'

" 'We wish to raise our concern about the allegations of the failure to assess the consequences on health of the release of wastewater against the best available scientific evidence,' the special rappoteurs write.

" 'Against this backdrop, we would like to highlight that the threats to the enjoyment of the right to adequate food do not concern only local people within the borders of Japan.

" 'Given the migratory nature of fish, their contamination represents a risk also for people living beyond the Japanese borders, including Indigenous Peoples across the Pacific Ocean which, according to their culture and traditions, mainly rely on seafood as their primary livelihood.'

"The letter follows a complaint submitted by Ocean Vision Legal in August 2023 on behalf of the Pacific Network on Globalisation (#PANG) and endorsed by over 50 civil society groups in the Pacific and beyond.

"In a statement on Tuesday, PANG hailed it as "a landmark move for #OceanJustice and #HumanRights'.

"The organisation said that the destructive legacy of nuclear #contamination through #NuclearTesting is still strongly felt across the region.

"It said this legacy is marked by severe health impacts across generations and the ongoing failure to properly clean up test sites, which continue to contaminate the islands and waterways that Pacific peoples depend on.

" 'As Pacific groups, we remain disappointed in the Japanese Government and TEPCO's shameless disregard of the calls by numerous Pacific leaders and civil society groups to hold off on any further release,' PANG's coordinator Joey Tau said.

" 'Their ignorance constitutes a brazen threat to Pacific peoples' livelihoods, safety, health and well-being, and the sovereignty of Pacific nations,' he added.

"Japan has consistently maintained that the release is safe.

"The UN human rights experts have asked for further information from Japan, including on the allegations raised, and on how the Radiological Environmental Impact Assessment has been conducted according to the best available scientific evidence.

"This communication sends a clear message: Ocean issues must be understood as human rights issues, requiring precautionary and informed action aligned with international environmental law to safeguard both people and the marine environment.

"#OceanVisionLegal founder and CEO Anna von Rebay said while the communication is not legally binding, it is a crucial milestone.

" 'It informs the interpretation of human rights and environmental law in response to contemporary threats, contributing to the development of customary international law and strengthens accountability for any actor harming the Ocean,' she said.

" 'Ultimately, it paves the way towards a future where the Ocean's health is fully recognised as fundamental to human dignity, justice, and intergenerational equity.' "

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/561566/japan-s-fukushima-nuclear-wastewater-pose-major-environmental-human-rights-risks-un-experts

#OceansAreLife #WaterIsLife #Radiation #TEPCOLies #NoFukushimaDumping #FukushimaIsntOver #TEPCOLies #NoDumping #Tritium #PacificOcean #WaterIsLife #NoNukes #NoNewNukes #FukushimaDaiichi #Fukushima #ALPS #RadioactiveContamination #HormesisIsBullShit #Bioaccumulation #NuclearPowerCorruptionAndLies

What will #Japan do with #contaminated soil near #Fukushima nuclear plant?

April 8, 2025 (Mainichi Japan)

"The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about what Japan will do with soil removed around the #FukushimaDaiichi #NuclearPower Station after the meltdowns triggered by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

Question: What does the term "contaminated soil" that is talked about on the news refer to?

Answer: It points to soil containing radioactive cesium that was dispersed over a wide area due to the 2011 Fukushima power plant meltdowns. After the accident, to minimize residents' exposure to radiation, soil tainted with radioactive cesium underwent a decontamination process and was removed. Approximately 14 million cubic meters of it was collected in Fukushima Prefecture.

Q: What has happened to all that soil?

A: It is currently stored in an "interim storage facility," stretching across the prefectural towns of Futaba and Okuma, adjacent to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The facility in this area, which used to house about 2,700 residents before the accident, was developed by the national government through land purchases and leases. The law promises that the contaminated soil stored there will undergo final disposal outside the prefecture sometime before 2045. To reduce the volume for final disposal, the plan is to use about three-quarters of it for purposes such as road embankments.

Q: Is it safe to use the removed soil?

A: The Ministry of the Environment has set the standard for reusing soil at "a concentration of radioactive cesium of 8,000 becquerels or less per kilogram." This standard has been deemed appropriate by domestic and international expert organizations. The government intends to handle the soil in accordance with international standards to minimize the radiation impact on construction workers and nearby residents. However, since this is an unprecedented endeavor, some experts are concerned about whether it can be managed over a long period without affecting the surrounding area.

Q: Can this really be achieved in 20 years?

A: Even the demonstration project for reuse planned by the Environment Ministry in locations including Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward has not progressed, and it is uncertain whether destinations for reuse or final disposal will be found. Additionally, a national survey revealed that about 80% of people outside Fukushima Prefecture are unaware of this "promise." The government needs to intensify efforts to raise awareness of the contaminated soil issue, especially among people outside Fukushima Prefecture."

Source:
https://mainichi.jp/articles/20250405/ddm/003/070/086000c

#FukushimaIsntOver #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukes #NoNukesForAI #TEPCOLies #JapanGovernment #RadioactiveSoil