Table of Contents
Foreword 1
Introduction 4
World Map 10
Chapter 1 Historical Background on Japan's 2011 Natural Disasters and Nuclear Meltdown
1 The 2011 Japanese Disasters: An Overview: Historic World Events 13
2 Japan Shattered; First the Quakes, Then the Tsunami-Now, the Devastation of Possible Nuclear Meltdown Chico Harlan 21
3 A Second Blast at the Fukushima Nuclear Plant Ron Synovitz 28
4 Toxic Truth About Japan's "Miracle" Richard Jones 35
5 As Japan's Tsunami Debris Arrives, Can the US West Coast Handle It? Winston Ross 42
6 I Am One of the Fukushima Fifty David McNeill 49
Chapter 2 Controversies Surrounding Japan's 2011 Natural Disasters and Nuclear Meltdown
1 Japan Prepared Well for Tsunamis Andrew Moore 58
2 Thousands Died Because Japan Was Not Prepared for the Tsunami Bruce Parker 63
3 The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident Was a "Man-Made" Disaster: The National Diet of Japan Fukushima- Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission 69
4 The Kan Government's Initial Disaster Response Was Reasonably Good Jeff Kingston 80
5 The Japanese Government Needs to Revamp Its Disaster Response Plan Leo Bosner 90
6 The Impact of Disaster Bill Emmott 103
7 Too Much Self-Restraint Will Harm Japan's National Interest Geoffrey Tudor 111
8 Japan's Meltdown Emily Parker 118
9 Earthquake, Tsunami, Meltdown-The Triple Disaster's Impact on Japan, Impact on the World Elizabeth Ferris Mireya Solis 127
Chapter 3 Personal Narratives
1 A Tokyo Businesswoman Feels Stranded by the Earthquake Chikirin 134
2 A Foreign Student Experiences the 2011 Earthquake: Sasicha Manupipatpong 142
3 A Writer Lives Through the Earthquake and Other 2011 Disasters Lucy Birmingham David McNeill 148
4 A Japanese Evacuee Shares Her Concerns Izumi Nakano 154
5 After the Disaster: A Return to a Devastated Japan David Baresch 159
6 A Journalist Visits the Fukushima Nuclear Plant Martin Fackler 165
7 Tracking Tsunami Flotsam Marcus Erikson 172
Glossary 182
Chronology 185
For Further Reading 189
Index 193