The human drama, and long-term lessons, of the Fukushima nuclear disaster

The Fukushima nuclear disaster on March 11, 2011, following a major tsunami, presented an enormous challenge to Japan, one of the world's most advanced and organized countries. Failures at all levels-of both the government and the privatesector-worsened the human and economic impact of the disaster and ensured that the consequences would continue for many years to come.

Based on interviews with more than 300 government officials, power plant operators, and military personnel during the years since the disaster, Meltdown is a meticulous recounting and analysis of the human stories behind the response to the disaster.

While the people battling to deal with the crisis at the site of the power plant were risking their lives, the government at the highest levels in Tokyo was in disarray and the utility company that operated the plant appeared focused more on power struggles with the government than on dealing with the crisis. Yoichi Funabashi, one of Japan's most eminent journalists, provides an unrivaled chronological account of the immediate two weeks of human struggle to contain man-madetechnology that was overwhelmed by nature.

Funabashi gives insights into why Japan's decisionmaking process failed almost as dramatically as had the Fukushima nuclear reactors. Funabashi uses the Fukushima nuclear disaster to draw lessons about leadership, governance, disaster resilience, and crisis management-lessons that have universal application and pertinence for an increasingly technology-driven and interconnectedglobal society.