Original subtitles

BASED ON TRUE EVENTS

How can I begin…

to look back on those days?

No…

Talking about them in the past tense doesn't seem right.

Those days…

what were they really?

Over there, first!

-Stay focused! -Yes, sir.

DISASTER RESPONSE FORCE

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE

NEW ENERGY FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE

From this moment…

in this place…

I must tell the story.

Did we perhaps…

take a wrong turn somewhere?

Or was this simply…

a destiny we couldn't escape?

March 11…

2011.

The span of days that began on that date…

For me…

No…

for Japan as a nation…

What could they possibly be?

EPISODE 1

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR POWER STATION

MARCH 11, 2011 2ND FLOOR, MAIN ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING

USE ELECTRICITY WISELY

STATION MANAGER'S OFFICE

Hi, boss!

Hello, everyone.

-Here. All approved. -Thank you very much.

-Afternoon, sir. -Afternoon.

Say, what's happening with the periodic inspection?

Proceeding as planned.

Units 5 and 6 should be finished soon.

What about Unit 4?

All fuel has been transferred to the pool and we've begun replacing the core shroud.

-Oh, Kinoshita! -Yes?

Have we set a date for the cherry blossom picnic?

Not yet.

But you should know, we're all practicing.

-Practicing what? -Songs!

-Songs? -There are parts for you, too!

Why do I have to sing?

Idiot…

OUTPUT LEVELS

-Take care of this. -Yes, sir.

-This too. -Right.

Oh, I see.

-Whoa! -What the--

Earthquake!

Everyone! Mind your heads!

Take cover!

Your heads!

Cover your heads!

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI CONTROL ROOM FOR UNITS 1 AND 2

Unit 1, emergency shutdown!

Unit 2, emergency shutdown!

REACTOR THERMAL POWER

Unit 1, confirming full control rod insertion!

Unit 2, confirming full control rod insertion!

Successful shutdown of Units 1 and 2 confirmed!

Unit 1 has lost external power source!

Unit 2 has also lost external power!

Loss of external power source for Units 1 and 2 confirmed!

Unit 1, MSIV closed!

Unit 2, MSIV closed!

Unit 1, emergency diesel generator activated.

Voltage normal.

Unit 2, emergency diesel generator activated.

Voltage normal!

Successful activation of emergency diesel generators

confirmed for Units 1 and 2.

Is anyone injured?

I'm fine!

Me too!

-I'm fine! -And me.

Omura, that fire alarm is too loud. Turn it off.

-And check the monitoring post. -Yes sir!

-Check the status of the reactors. -Yes, sir!

Unit 1, reactor mode switch off!

Unit 2, reactor mode switch off!

Reactor mode switch-off for Units 1 and 2 confirmed.

Unit 1, emergency core cooling system IC activated.

Unit 2, emergency core cooling system RCIC activated.

Activation of IC emergency core cooling system for Unit 1

and RCIC for Unit 2 confirmed.

Shift Supervisor!

Shouldn't we tell the junior staff on patrol to return to the control room?

Right. See to it.

-Let's go! -Yes, sir.

Is everybody okay?

-Yes, sir. -We're fine.

Help me, please!

-Someone! Please help! -Hang tight. We're coming.

-I'm here. Don't worry. -Please!

Just hang on.

-Okay… -A little higher!

-Is this good? -Yes!

Can you get out?

-Give me your hand. -Right!

I'm going to pull!

-You okay? -Thank you.

Thank you so much.

-An earthquake? -It must have been.

It was pretty big.

The power's still out.

What about the reactors?

Did they stop?

I can't tell.

Find out.

Yes, sir. Right away.

Wait!

Check with the Daini Station too.

If they're also shut down,

all of Tokyo will be short on power.

Right!

-You sure you're okay? -Yeah.

HOUSE OF COUNCILLORS COMMITTEE ON AUDIT

NATIONAL DIET, TOKYO

-That was a pretty big quake. -Yes.

Where's the epicenter?

Offshore of Sanriku, it seems.

I'll confirm the exact location.

-And the scale of the damage. -Right.

Look into it.

For the time being,

I think it would be best to adjourn the committee

and return to your office.

Sounds good.

-Let's do that. -Right.

Please allow us to adjourn, so we can assess the situation.

-Hold it, Prime Minister! -You think you can run?

Prime Minister!

You haven't answered our questions

about political contributions from South Korean financial institutions!

-He's right! -Yeah!

We demand an answer!

Excuse me, everyone!

Please allow us to prioritize assessing the scale of the disaster!

It could be a national emergency!

Prime Minister, let's go.

The committee is hereby temporarily adjourned.

Once you assess things, you owe us answers!

This isn't over, Prime Minister!

TOEPCO, INC.

Yes.

TOEPCO INC, TOKYO HQ SPECIAL DISASTER RESPONSE UNIT

No flights from Itami or Kansai International?

I'm very sorry to hear that, sir.

Oh, hold on…

-How are freeway and bullet train access? -From where?

Huh? I'm talking to President Nishiura!

Obviously, he's in Nara.

Sorry.

-Find out immediately. -Yes, sir.

Hello? Don't worry, we'll handle it.

I'm sorry to interrupt your vacation, but please prepare to return here.

Yes.

I'll contact you when we've found a route.

Thank you, sir.

TOEPCO VICE PRESIDENT MURAKAMI

Listen up…

The thermal plants in Kashima,

as well as Fukushima Daiichi and Daini Nuclear Power Stations are all down.

Power outages are reported

over a broad area covering Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Kanagawa.

Restoring output from each station is priority one.

We don't want to be responsible for a major outage in the capital.

All staff, immediately confirm status and focus on response.

-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!

All staff,

immediately cease operations

and evacuate to safety.

A tsunami warning has been issued. Please evacuate.

Please proceed in an orderly fashion!

OUTSIDE NUCLEAR REACTOR BUILDINGS 10 M ABOVE SEA LEVEL

I repeat.

This way!

An earthquake has occurred.

All staff, immediately cease operations and evacuate to safety.

The tremors were intense.

I'm worried whether my house is still standing.

Right…

But it's not safe to linger outside the station.

We'd better do as we trained and move to the seismic isolated building.

Yes, sir.

Please evacuate to the seismic isolated building.

What's wrong?

I feel sick.

Are you okay?

There's no signal at all.

-What about over there? -They're out in front.

I'm worried.

There's nothing we can do in here.

Let's move to the seismic isolated building.

Have each group do a roll call, now.

-Everyone evacuates! -Yes, sir!

-Station Manager! -Yes?

Units 1 through 3

all shut down per procedure.

I've confirmed that the IC and RCIC

are both operating and the HPCI is available.

Good. The reactors are being cooled, then.

Yes.

Have the operators begun evacuating?

We're issuing continuous warning announcements.

Make sure everyone gets evacuated.

After an earthquake that big, there are bound to be injuries.

Do a thorough safety check.

Yes, sir.

TOEPCO

This way, please!

Please keep moving!

SEISMIC ISOLATED BUILDING PARKING LOT 30 M ABOVE SEA LEVEL

Are you alright?

Medic, over here!

-Coming! -Are you okay?

We held evacuation drills just last month,

so in some ways, it's lucky timing.

SEISMIC ISOLATED BUILDING

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI CONTROL ROOM FOR UNITS 1 AND 2

Unit 1 is losing pressure. We're at 4,5 megapascals.

3 REACTOR PRESSURE 4,5 MPa 4 APRM OUTPUT 0%

Hey, isn't it dropping too fast?

The temperature decrease is exceeding 55 degrees per hour.

It's over-cooling.

Shall we shut down the IC?

Right…

Close the valves per procedure.

-Then see if the drop changes. -Yes, sir!

Can someone check the generators?

We'll go.

There might be aftershocks.

Be careful.

-Right. -Yes, sir.

SHIFT SUPERVISOR

UNIT 4

-Figures at four… thousand. -Four thousand, confirmed.

Water levels are dropping in the Unit 4 TCW surge tank.

Is it a problem with the pump?

The gauges could be malfunctioning too.

We'd better take a look.

You're right.

-Takahira! -Yes?

Can you check inside the reactor building?

The water levels seem to be dropping.

Yes, sir.

You can take Kirihara, too.

Right.

-Kirihara! -Yes?

This way.

Please fill out a form before going inside.

EVACUATION SHELTER, FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE

Please take your time.

There it is again!

-Man… -I'm scared.

-This way, please. -Please proceed.

One person at a time!

Well, then…

I'm going to go to the station.

Right.

Save your cellphone battery

for when you really need it.

Who knows when you'll be able to charge next.

Got it.

Don't worry about us, okay?

Yuto!

Take care of Mom.

Yeah.

What'd I say about cell phones?

Make your way inside! There's no need to hurry!

You be careful too.

Right. Bye.

It seems like my wife's okay.

How about your family?

MUTSU CITY, AOMORI PREFECTURE

Hello?

Oh, it's you, Bro.

I'm glad I got through.

Is Mom there?

Mom! It's Koki!

Coming!

Thanks.

Koki?

Mom…

is everything okay there?

Yes.

The power's out, but that's it.

We're fine.

What about you?

No worries here.

The tremors were big, though.

I'm glad you're okay.

You don't need to worry about us.

Got it.

-Bye, then. -Bye!

Was that Koki?

Yeah. He said he's okay.

Tell him to restore power, already!

Why else is he working at the electric company?

-No good. -Still out?

There's a TV show on tonight I wanted to see.

What about your homework?

I can't do it in the dark.

KOKI KIRIHARA EXCELLENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Where are you going?

KOKI KIRIHARA AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

-You're from Aomori, right? -Yeah.

Okay, then…

Are you ready?

The rail companies have all suspended service

to conduct facility checks.

All freeways are closed,

except for Hokkaido and portions of the Joshin-etsu.

In addition, 4,050,000 households in Kanto are without power.

We've asked TOEPCO for a recovery schedule.

PRIME MINISTER SHINJI AZUMA

Are the nuclear stations down too?

They shut down per standard procedure.

We'll ask Chubu and Kansai Power how much of their output they can share.

We're currently awaiting further information.

Aftershocks may lead to housing collapses.

Residents should take care.

I repeat…

at 2:46 p.m. in the Tohoku region…

I have confirmation.

A total of 12 thermal plants,

including Hamadori, Hitachinaka, Kashima and Chiba had emergency shutdowns.

Hydroelectric plants are down in 20 locations.

All from that one earthquake?

Are you saying we lost nearly all our output from one event?

Yes.

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER

How long will it take to get more than 30 generators back up and running?

Declare an Article 3 Emergency for all employees.

Yes, sir.

Useless…

An earthquake has occurred.

All staff

should immediately cease operations and evacuate.

A tsunami warning has been issued.

All staff,

immediately cease operations and evacuate to safety.

I repeat.

An earthquake has occurred.

All staff

should immediately cease operations and evacuate to safety.

A tsunami warning has been issued.

We finally got out of there.

Good thing Unit 4 was already down for inspection.

There are so many people around.

What's wrong?

Look.

Uh, this is bad.

Really bad…

We're not safe here.

-Run… -Huh?

Oh, right…

We have to run! Come on!

Hey…

Hurry!

NO.2 SILICON VENT

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI 30 M ABOVE SEA LEVEL

-It's a tsunami! -Run!

Run!

Watch it!

Hurry!

PARKING LOT NO. 2 MAIN ENTRANCE

SAFETY IS THE FIRST PRIORITY

Watch your step.

Right.

BASEMENT FLOOR, UNIT 4 TURBINE BUILDING

It's water!

What the hell?

Get up! Come on!

Kirihara!

-Hurry! -Right…

No way through…

Quickly!

Up the stairs! Hurry!

Kirihara, come on!

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI SHARED OPERATIONAL ASSISTANCE FACILITY

Huh? That's weird…

You too?

Yeah, it says "error" and the doors won't open.

The outside doors won't open either!

What?

You mean we can't even exit?

Well, this is a pain…

Can you call somebody?

There's an intercom in here!

I'll try calling security!

Right.

Damn it…

This is reinforced glass, too.

It's going to be hard to break.

What the hell is that?

A tsunami…

Toda! Run!

There's a tsunami coming!

Let us out!

We need help!

Please…

Let me out!

Let me out!

Let me out, damn it!

In here!

Let me out!

Please!

Let me out!

This is it…

I'm going to die!

2A EMERGENCY DG GENERATOR

What's the reactor water level in Unit 1?

REACTOR WATER LEVEL 910 MM

Plus 910 millimeters.

What about Unit 2?

Plus 1,160 millimeters.

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI STRAIGHT AHEAD 1,5 KM

-What's the matter with you? -It was unavoidable.

Damn it…

Todoroki…

Todoroki!

I'm okay!

Reactor water levels are now at normal.

What about pressure?

No abnormalities.

It's currently 6,9 megapascals.

I'll start the IC.

Roger.

Just like we drilled, report every five--

What now?

Whoa, wait a minute…

Unit 1, Emergency Diesel Generator A…

shutdown!

-Huh? -What?

Say that again…

-Whoa! -Hey!

SBO!

SBO!

-SBO! -SBO!

-SBO! -SBO!

-SBO! -SBO!

There are already power outages

across wide portions of the capital.

CABINET CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER

Once the sun sets,

we can expect…

the lack of power

to lead to greater chaos.

To minimize such chaos,

all relevant institutions will stay in regular contact

and, uh…

respond accordingly.

We'd like to hear from TOEPCO first.

With regard to restarting the 30 currently suspended power stations,

I've received word that the staff are in contact with each station

and are doing their best to address the situation.

Sir, an Article 15 alert has been issued.

MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Article 15? What's that?

An Article 15 alert?

Did it come from you?

Yes. It was me.

Is that so…

You sent an Article 15 alert to the government

without bothering to check with HQ…

That must be one heck of an emergency,

Station Manager Yoshida…

Well? Explain yourself.

Due to the earthquake and tsunami, Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

has lost all power.

You've lost… all power?

I don't understand.

The earthquake severed our external power supply.

The subsequent tsunami…

submerged all land 10 meters above sea level,

including the reactor buildings.

Emergency diesel generators failed after contact with salt water.

The seismic isolated building

has enough power from the gas turbine to keep the lights on,

but the control room is completely blacked out.

CHIEF OF OPERATION

Are the nuclear reactors being cooled?

Even without power, the IC should be working, right?

I don't know.

What do you mean you don't know?!

We've suffered a total power failure.

The control room has lost all instrumentation.

-The current state of the reactors… -No response.

…is beyond our ability to confirm.

That does indeed…

meet the definition of an Article 15 crisis.

What will you do now?

I don't know.

No training scenario imagined this.

We'll continue reviewing the emergency manual,

develop an urgent response procedure and report back to you.

-Hurry! -Yes, sir.

With regard to nuclear facilities,

a portion of the nuclear stations were shut down automatically,

but we have yet to receive reports of radioactive material

having an effect on the outside.

Safety has been ensured,

and citizens can feel free…

Please excuse me.

We'll resume the conference tomorrow morning.

Please direct any further questions to me.

UNIT 1 SEVERE ACCIDENT MANUAL

RECOVERY TEAM 1

It's no use. There's not a single scenario covering total power failure.

Three Mile Island and Chernobyl both had power.

All of their reactor instruments were functioning.

PARKING LOT NO.2 MAIN GATE

-Come on! -Hurry!

-Are you okay? -I'm fine.

-You sure? -Thank you very much.

Subtitle translation by: Brad Plumb