Japan: A Future After The Tsunami

The massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011 has caused the greatest crisis in that country since the second world war. With towns wiped off the map, 20,000 dead or missing and an ongoing nuclear nightmare around the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the disaster has already cost billions and displaced tens of thousands, and will reverberate far into Japan’s future.

From the day of the quake, The World has covered the disaster, its aftermath and its global reverberations with reports from our correspondents on the ground in Japan and around the world, and as well as expert interviews and analysis from our newsroom in Boston.

For the first anniversary of the disaster, we sent veteran environment reporter Sam Eaton to northern Japan and Tokyo to explore the state of the recovery and cleanup, some of the fault lines and challenges the country faces, and the ways in which some Japanese people and communities are pulling their lives back together and looking forward.

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Fears Grow of Big Tokyo Quake

Barely a year after a massive earthquake and tsunami crippled northern Japan, there’s increasing fear of a big quake hitting Tokyo. Reporter Sam Eaton recently spent time with one of Japan’s leading seismologists, and a survivor of the last major quake to hit Tokyo, nearly 90 years ago. More >>>

A Year After Fukushima, Clean Energy Still Just a Promise in Japan

One year after the Fukushima disaster nearly all of Japan’s 54 nuclear power plants are out of service and the country is facing a major power crunch. The government has promised a major shift toward cleaner renewable energy to help fill the gap. But as Sam Eaton reports, the country’s clean energy revolution has yet to get much traction. More >>>

Japan’s Tsunami-Stricken Fishermen Chart New Course

Last year’s tsunami virtually destroyed many northern Japanese fishing communities. A year later, residents are struggling to rebuild, but as Sam Eaton reports, some are finding that the disaster has given them the opportunity to chart a new course. More >>>

A Year After the Tsunami, Slow Progress on Rebuilding in Japan

A year after a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami, coastal towns in northern Japan have barely begun to rebuild. Sam Eaton visited the ravaged area and spoke with residents trying to rebuild their communities and lives. More >>>

Fukushima’s Hot Zone Cleanup: A Journey Into Uncharted Territory

The tsunami triggered a triple meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant. Now, a year later, the effort to clean up the contaminated area around the plant has just begun. Sam visited the hot zone for a first-hand look at the massive undertaking. He says no one knows if it will ever be finished, because no one’s ever tried anything like it. More >>>

Japan Disaster: The Lasting Impact of March 11, 2011

Sam speaks with anchor Marco Werman about the impact of last year’s tsunami and nuclear meltdowns on the psyche and culture of the Japanese. More >>>

Fukushima

• Fukushima Report: Japan Dodged Major Nuclear Disaster
• Scientist Warned of Tsunami Disaster in Japan
• Japan Tries to Soothe Nuclear Worries

Blogs

• The News Behind the Non-News of Fukushima’s Multiple Meltdowns
• Radiation, Risk and the “Linear No-Threshold” Model
• Fukushima Report: Japan Dodged Major Nuclear Disaster
• Fukushima’s Collateral Damage
• Fukushima vs. Chernobyl–Comparison less useful than ever
• Fukushima likely not as bad as Chernobyl, but what does that mean?

Japan: Change in the Wake of Disaster

• The World’s Marco Werman on assignment in Japan