Inside Fukushima: What Happened After the Nuclear Disaster?

44 Comments

1. Not a day's gone by in 8 years that I've not heard the word Fukushima. It's difficult to grasp the scale of the disaster, but I gave it my best shot in this documentary.
   It’s crazy to think before 2011, Fukushima was one of Japan’s least known places, and all of a sudden overnight it became synonymous with the second worst nuclear disaster in history. I've often considered making a video on the subject – it's been amongst the most commonly requested by viewers – but only now that vast areas have been decontaminated did I feel comfortable with the idea of going in.

   Like most people here, you become desensitised to hearing about it. You forget the scale of what happened and what’s at stake. Having travelled through Fukushima almost every month for the last few years now, I’d still never gone within 70km of the disaster zone and never come close to witnessing the reality of the massive clean up operation. With that in mind, it was quite the shock to arrive in the region and see hundreds of trucks and diggers at work terraforming the landscape, and thousands of black bags of contaminated soil piled high and blanketing the luscious countryside.

   During my two day trip, I tried to capture as much as I could to tell the story of the past, present and future of the Fukushima disaster zone and I hope in this video you can learn something from my journey and the stories of the people we met along the way. It certainly tested my skills as a vlogger! Overall, I’m glad I finally saw it all with my own eyes, after reading about it in hundreds of newspaper articles over the years. I feel like I appreciate the situation far better having witnessed it in person, and I’m certainly not ruling out re-visiting in the future.

   And finally a special thanks to my guide Fumito Sasaki, who’s knowledge of the disaster zone was invaluable in producing this documentary. His tours to the area are incredibly insightful to understanding the scale of the disaster. For those of you interested, he runs a highly educational 2 Day Overnight trip (https://bit.ly/31YBQe0) and a shorter One Day Trip (https://bit.ly/2Mumo2T) into the disaster zone from Tokyo.

2. That 10 meter gap at the road where you look to the other side with all the empty buildings, it's bizarre that it's such a small space between where it's safe and unsafe to live.
   It's very interesting to see the viewpoints of the people affected, thanks for showing it Chris.

3. I really enjoy your more serious "documentary style" videos like this.

4. This is hands-down the best documentary covering a national tragedy I've ever seen. It's so professional, respectful, and just the right amount of objective. I absolutely love how you let the residents speak for themselves (even if it costs you more time to subtitle it in), and only hop in with your voice if clarification is needed.
   I haven't cried at much, but damn if this didn't just shatter me. Thank you so much.

5. You're videos are amazing it's like watching a high budget movie documentary 😎

6. Wow…Follow various YouTubers in Japan and Korea etc.
   Have watched a few if your videos very different from the others ..Love you British sense of humour…
   This is probably one of the best so far..I followed this tragic story as I have a friend whose familylives just outside of Tokyo…
   Thanks so much for going to this place and tling
   such an interesting but really sad story and interviewing locals.. Bravissimo!!!!❤️

7. I watched this and the video Japan's $200 billion disaster before I even knew who Chris was, and it was done so seriously and professionally, that I really thought Chris was some BBC reporter doing a documentary. 6 months later, I find his funny videos and realize a month or so later he did those videos I'd watched earlier. Amazing videos, Chris. Keep up the good work.

8. What are the music tracks used for the video?

9. I heard you mention this documentary in another of your video's where you were wondering why it wasn't more watched and liked, i'll add that i haven't watched it myself yet, but i'm working on being in the right headspace to do so after you said that you feel it is your best work. I want to give a possible reason for why it may not be more liked and watched from my own perspective…this subject matter is difficult for me to watch. I was a teenager in the 80's and we had all things 'nuclear is bad!', 'OMG! someone's going to press the button and kill us all at any moment!' sentiment, media and imagery shoved at us constantly. Books, movies, conversations at school, lots of wars happening around the world and it was the cold war. I remember Chernobyl happening really well, it was like all our worst fears had come to life (even though i was half a world away in Australia), it was still shocking and gutwrenching. Fukushima was on the same level, shocking and difficult to take in, the sheer cost to life, land and people is almost incomprehensible and watching documentaries about it leaves me with a deep sadness and a wish that things could be different. I sincerely hope humanity learns to handle nuclear power better, and find ways to prevent this happening again, even if its a natural disaster that threatens to cause it.

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11. Fantastic

12. Excellent production Chris and I commend your correct use of units when quoting radiation dose rates when filming and putting these numbers in perspective.

13. damn, that was really that long ago? I was in college when I heard about the tsunami/nuke plant.

    Also, those cleanup guys must make pretty decent money considering the risk, where do I apply?!

14. I Like how much afford is in this Video

15. Good video, the guy staying behind to help animals… Is a hero

16. Best vid of the Chanel love the work that got in to it

17. The elementary school building had a beautiful design. It is miraculous that all the children were evacuated. When this disaster happened, there were calls on US TV to “pray for Japan”. I did pray.

    You don’t see damage like this in videos about Japan and it adds to the sense of loss. Seeing the abandoned fields and houses reminds you of wounds that take a long time to heal. The livestock farmer who is raising cows in defiance of the government is a truly compassionate man. The horticulturist who is growing flowers in spite of the lack of soil embodies hope.

18. So your drone is now certified for night flights as it can glow in the dark?

19. send the nuclear soil to mars and start teraforming

20. Simply from the first couple of seconds I feel like I’m watching national TV, amazing job

    I just finished it, that was truly touching, I don’t watch much videos from Chris, but this one is definitely one that’s made me a huge fan.

21. The somber tone of Chris's narration, contrasted with the somewhat light and upbeat music really helps to illustrate the state of Fukushima after the disaster, but also the glimmer of hope for recovery and improvement. The production quality is fantastic all around and really makes me feel like I've visited as well. Great job!

22. When the Broad man decides to go all Nat Geo on your ass

23. Nuclear power needs to be done away with all over the world because it's one of the most dangerous ways to generate power , nothing good comes from nuclear reaction.

24. I remember hearing about all the volunteers who worked at the site immediately after the disaster trying to stop it from being worse then it was. I was so damn impressed and thought about how different it would be if it happened in the US. I can imagine all the finger pointing and the politicians all blaming each other instead of understanding that there are something's no one is responsible for.

25. My heartfelt wishes and prayer for all the people who lost their everything in this tragic disaster ❤those who still hope to get back to their original home I hope they will be able to do so. This video really broke my heart

26. Hey Chris, just another Australian here. Binged watched so many of your videos lately. Mostly the funny ones. But this is next level stuff. Much appreciated. I visited Hiroshima a few years ago and felt the impact. I can't imagine how such a recent event made these people feel. Respect my man 🤜🏻🤛🏻.

27. Thank you.

28. Where do they dump the radiated soil?

29. If America or indon want to hurt me more im just listening i know how iam

30. That was amazing Chris. Well done, a very professional, well informed and educative documentary.

31. I love when you do these style of videos! Great quality and interesting perspectives.

32. This was your very finest, Chris. Kudos for the incredible effort you put into this documentary. It was both sobering and hopeful. Thank you for a top-notch look into Fukushima.

33. AMAZING DOCUMENTARY…KEEP IT UP, CHRIS! YOU UNDOUBTEDLY ARE GIFTED 👍🏻💕

34. Where are the trucks hauling the contaminated soil ? Where is a ‘safe place’ ?

35. Bravo! All of your videos are enjoyable, but this one is really important and extremely well done. Thanks for making it. 自慢してもいいよ、この作品。

36. I started watching your videos because you're incredibly funny.

    Thank you for showing your depth of character and giving this subject the professionalism it deserves.

37. All the people you interviewed are amazing. I don't think I would be able to go back to my hometown after seeing how much it has changed if something like that happened. To see them work so hard and make it seem lively again there is truly heartwarming. Great documentary.

38. The most powerful episode you’ve done so far. Bravo

39. Thank you for this Chris, really interesting.

40. Question, could one incinerate the radioactive soil?

41. Excellent, excellent documentary. Extremely informative and precesffionaly done.

42. Your video helps people recover from stress and provides a blueprint for solutions.

43. I feel for the people their they lost everything it's a shame I dont know if any of you have about the Chernobyl disaster that happened where no one can every live there again they say it inhabitable I heard that nobody will be able to live there for at least thousands of years if I remember correctly two of the nuclear reactors had a meltdown it might have been one I'd have go back and look are if any of you what to check for your selves both disasters are such a tragedy I hope that there will never be another nuclear disaster again

44. Nuclear radiation is still pouring out from the explosion of the nuclear power plants caused by the tsunami in Japan.

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