Original subtitles

Okay, let's attach the tank.

-Hold that end. -Yes, sir.

I'm leaving a dosimeter on the Unit 1 side.

Everything okay?

BASED ON TRUE EVENTS

I left one on the Unit 2 side too.

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI CONTROL ROOM FOR UNITS 1 AND 2

What's wrong?

Huh? Oh, it's nothing.

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR POWER STATION

INSIDE SERVICE BUILDING FOR UNITS 1 AND 2

The radiation levels are higher than expected.

Should we pick up the pace?

Yes.

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI INSIDE UNIT 1 TURBINE BUILDING

HEADQUARTERS OF MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, TRADE AND INDUSTRY

NUCLEAR AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AGENCY

DEPUTY MANAGER

Should we show this to the Prime Minister?

Are you sure… about these numbers?

Yes.

I calculated a variety of scenarios based on

the reports from Fukushima Daiichi.

RADIATION PROJECTIONS FOR FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI

PRIMARY CONTAINMENT VESSEL PRESSURE WILL REACH 1,200 KPA BY 11:00 P.M.

IF PRESSURE RESISTANT VENT IS NOT COMPLETED SOON,

THE CONTAINMENT VESSEL WILL RUPTURE AT 11:00 P.M. ON MARCH 12

AND EXPEL A HIGH VOLUME

OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL TO THE OUTSIDE.

THE RADIATION LEVELS WITHIN THE STATION GROUNDS

WILL LIKELY REACH OR EXCEED SEVERAL SIEVERTS.

THIS WOULD BE HAZARDOUS TO THE PUBLIC AT A 3 TO 5 KM RANGE.

Several sieverts?!

And that's not just inside the reactor building,

but in every corner of the station's grounds?

No one has been exposed to multiple sieverts

since a worker was killed

in the 1999 criticality accident.

You're saying the entire grounds will reach that level?

Unfortunately, yes…

Can you find the records of the 1999 accident?

I brought them with me.

REPORT ON IBARAKI PREFECTURE URANIUM ENRICHMENT ACCIDENT

PATIENTS A, B, AND C: MALES AGE 36, 34, AND 53

HARMFUL AFTER-EFFECTS RADIATION BURNS

BLOOD CELL DEFICIENCY GASTROINTESTINAL DISTURBANCE

PHOTOGRAPHED ON OCTOBER 9, 1999 8TH DAY SINCE ACCIDENT

PHOTOGRAPHED ON OCTOBER 15, 1999 14TH DAY SINCE ACCIDENT

PHOTOGRAPHED ON OCTOBER 21, 1999 20TH DAY SINCE ACCIDENT

PHOTOGRAPHED ON OCTOBER 27, 1999 26TH DAY SINCE ACCIDENT

PHOTOGRAPHED ON NOVEMBER 1, 1999 31ST DAY SINCE ACCIDENT

1999

CRITICALITY ACCIDENT OCCURS AT NUCLEAR FUEL-PROCESSING PLANT

BIOCLEAN ROOM 1

AFTER SUFFERING A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS

PATIENT DIED ON THE 80TH DAY

I'm told the worker's condition was so awful,

the staff member who drafted the reports suffered PTSD.

The one who drafted the reports…

was me.

IF PRESSURE RESISTANT VENT IS NOT COMPLETED SOON,

THE CONTAINMENT VESSEL WILL RUPTURE AT 11:00 PM ON MARCH 12,

AND EXPEL A HIGH VOLUME OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

HAZARDOUS TO THE PUBLIC AT A 3 TO 5 KM RANGE.

Report this to the Chairman.

The Prime Minister has to know.

FIFTH FLOOR CORRIDOR, PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

Prime Minister…

Excuse me, I have an update.

What is it?

Does it have to be now?

No, whenever is convenient for you.

RADIATION PROJECTIONS FOR FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI

PRIMARY CONTAINMENT VESSEL PRESSURE

HAZARDOUS TO THE PUBLIC

EPISODE 4

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI

NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO UNIT 1 REACTOR BUILDING

NUCLEAR REACTOR BUILDING BEYOND THIS POINT

OFF-LIMITS MARCH 11, 11:05 PM

How's the radiation level?

We're still okay.

Good.

Let's open the door.

Opening…

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI INSIDE UNIT 1 REACTOR BUILDING

Hey! Are you okay?!

I'm all right.

This equipment gets in the way.

Sorry, I knew that would be the case, but…

If you start thinking about time…

-You panic, huh? -Yes.

-Be careful. -Right.

Okay…

I see it, Osugi!

Confirm the number!

Valve number…

2… 1… 0!

This is it. No doubt about it.

Okay. Let's open it up.

Right…

Damn it!

Come on, go in!

Go in!

Okay, it's in!

Hurry up!

Open, damn it!

Five percent open…

Ten percent open…

Fifteen percent open…

Twenty-five percent open!

Please confirm.

-Okay. -Let's get out of here.

Right…

Let's go.

Look!

-Welcome back. -Thank God you made it.

-Welcome back. -Thanks.

I'll take that.

Hey, take it easy!

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

-Let's get him up. -Sorry.

Hey…

we opened the valve!

-Yes! -Awesome!

-Good work! -Thank God.

Well done.

You really have…

done us all proud.

-Is this Kinoshita? -Yes.

Put Mr. Yoshida on.

Right…

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI EMERGENCY OPERATION ROOM

GENERATOR TEAM

Yeah? It's me.

They did it.

Furu and Osugi opened the valve.

I see.

A job well done.

Are they okay to talk?

Yes.

-Furu. -Then it was a success?

Yes.

Hello? This is Furuya.

Furu!

I'm so glad you made it back. Thank you.

Cut it out.

I'm just doing my job.

More importantly…

We were able to approach the primary containment vessel

and read the pressure gauge panel.

The pressure…

was 840 kilopascals.

We really are short on time.

Yes.

I'd like Maejima to send out Team 2.

Tell him for me.

Sure.

MUTSU CITY, AOMORI PREFECTURE

FAMILY HOME OF UNIT 4 OPERATOR KIRIHARA

When the tsunami came, we think Koki was here

in the underground floor beneath Unit 4.

MAP OF UNDERGROUND FLOOR, UNIT 4 TURBINE ROOM

Where are the stairs leading up?

Here.

How far did the tsunami spread?

When the tsunami came,

saltwater filled the Unit 4 building all the way to the second floor.

The basement and first floor…

are likely still submerged.

Origami…

Do we have any origami paper?

I don't know. Why?

It won't change much,

but we could make some prayer cranes.

I'll go find the paper.

Mr. Osugi, your reading is 25 millisieverts.

Mr. Furuya, your reading is 20 millisieverts.

Since you guys made it back all right,

Team 2 should be okay too…

right?

The MO valve we opened was outside the containment vessel.

The AO valve they're headed for is right above the suppression chamber.

We got out with these numbers.

What do you think the levels will be?

You can't help but be scared, right?

What scares me the most…

is the thought of dying before we reach the AO valve.

If we can open the valve,

then dying…

won't bother me.

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI INSIDE UNIT 1 REACTOR BUILDING

How long since they went in?

Four minutes.

-Are you worried? -Yes.

The valve Team 1 opened

was outside the concrete walls of the containment vessel.

Where Team 2 is headed…

there's no concrete to protect them from the radiation.

Right…

UNIT 1, FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI IN FRONT OF SUPPRESSION CHAMBER

SUPPRESSION CHAMBER BEYOND THIS POINT

Even here,

it's at 500 millisieverts.

The radiation level will be higher on the other side.

-What do we-- -We're going!

We're going!

Right. Let's do it.

Nine hundred millisieverts per hour?

Let's go as far as it can measure.

In a clockwise direction, as planned.

UNIT 1, FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI ABOVE SUPPRESSION CHAMBER

The dosimeter has maxed out.

We can't stay any longer. We've got to go back.

Don't even think about it. Kumagaya!

Turn back!

Kumagaya, it's no use. There's too much radiation.

Stop it, Kumagaya!

-We're going back! -No! I'll go until we reach the valve!

-Kumagaya! -Please let me do this!

Kumagaya…

I can die after I open the valve!

Kumagaya! Listen to me, damn it!

Kumagaya…

-Welcome back! -Welcome back!

Shimoda.

Are you okay?

Don't worry. We'll take it off.

Thanks.

It's no use.

The radiation levels…

were too high.

We couldn't make it.

The dosimeter reached its peak.

Four times more than Team 1?

Yes.

Send Shimoda and Kumagaya here to rest.

Yes, sir.

The radiation level must be increasing in the control room too.

Yes…

If we continue to stay here,

we'll exceed the yearly dose limit.

Give those two a message from me.

Tell them they made the right decision by coming back.

Yes, sir.

Listen carefully, Maejima. Don't blame yourself.

What you and I must do for them now

is get them to a doctor

and think of our next step.

It's thanks to Shimoda and Kumagaya.

that we now know how bad the situation is

We won't let that go to waste.

If we stop using our heads,

Fukushima will become a ghost town.

I understand.

Good.

CHIEF OF OPERATION

What a nightmare…

Okay, then!

Let's come up with some new ideas!

-Right. -Yes, sir!

Shift Supervisor, do you have a moment?

What is it?

Just now,

we junior staff members held a meeting and…

Yeah? Go on.

Well…

I hate to ask at a time like this.

Please let us leave the control room.

We understand how serious the situation is.

But…

we all have families.

We can't afford to die here.

Plus,

is there even a way for us to be useful here?

If we can't help, we'll find work in the seismic isolated building.

If we…

For us…

to leave this room…

For us to leave this room…

would mean…

that we've turned our backs…

on the station grounds

and on Fukushima itself.

The residents evacuating now

are holding out hope that we can do something,

even as they watch over us on TV or wherever.

Those of us here…

cannot leave this place behind.

Please.

If at any time…

If we reach a point of no return,

I'll use my authority to get you out of here,

no matter what the Station Manager says.

So until then…

Please.

Please stay.

-Welcome back! -Good work!

We're all aware of your efforts.

No…

We couldn't open the valve… I'm sorry.

I'm the one who's sorry.

There just wasn't any other way.

Please forgive me.

It was the obvious decision.

After all, someone had to do it.

In any case,

go to the Offsite Center and have a doctor look over you.

Kinoshita, arrange a car for them.

Yes, sir.

Shina! We need a car to take them to the Offsite Center.

Come on.

Chin up.

We'll have to send

replacements for those two

to the control room.

What?

Well, about that…

What?

Would you let me be the one?

You?

Yes.

No. You were assigned to Unit 5.

There's no need.

Station Manager!

I joined TOEPCO after graduating high school

right here in the area.

My first assignment was to Unit 1.

In truth, I…

I learned a lot from Unit 1.

I don't want my old friend

to be the thing that destroys our homeland.

No one knows more about Unit 1 than me.

I'm confident I could walk it blindfolded.

Please.

Understood. Go on.

Thank you very much!

I'll go get ready!

This and…

Okay.

Satoshi! You come too.

You got it.

-Grab two oxygen tanks. -Right.

-Thanks. -Sure.

Okay…

-Kinoshita! -Yes?

The recovery team came up with an idea.

What's that?

If we connect a compressor to the piping,

do you think we could apply pressure from outside

to open the valve remotely?

In theory, it could work.

The chances of success may be low,

but we'll do it in parallel with the entry of Team 3.

Please do.

Be careful, okay?

We know.

Take care of things here.

FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE NUCLEAR OFFSITE CENTER

Please decontaminate.

We have no hot water since the disasters.

Please settle for cold water.

Ooh, it's cold.

It's freezing.

Please wash thoroughly!

Both of you, please wash yourselves one more time.

A little more I think. A little tighter.

I'm going to tighten it.

Okay.

-I think that's good. -You're okay?

-You good? -Yeah.

-Hand me a mask. -Right.

There's one right there.

-Lift your arms, please. -Okay.

A little tighter.

-Hello everyone. -Oh, hey!

We're here to replace Shimoda and Kumagaya.

I see!

So you came, huh?

Did the other two leave for the hospital?

Furu.

They should reach the Offsite Center soon.

I guess you guys…

have joined the Suicide Squad.

Yeah, I guess so.

I only came because Kinoshita told me to.

What are you talking about?

Our senior, Maejima, is in trouble. We couldn't leave him hanging!

-I know that! -Hey, over there!

Are you suggesting that you've come to save us?

Since when did you kids get so big?

Cut it out…

Right?

In any case,

I wasn't expecting any replacements,

so you've done us a great service. Thank you.

No…

For Team 3,

please send me and Tateno.

-Did you find the compressor? -Yes.

A partner company should have one in their storeroom.

We sent a crane truck to get it.

We should be able to connect it to the piping.

Okay. Get it done.

Yes, sir!

Are you out of your mind?

Did you really think we'd let you go?

We're in charge of this reactor.

We'll go. As we agreed.

I have

more than ten years of experience working on Unit 1.

I know the valves better than anyone else.

This valve here.

Have you ever seen it with your own eyes, Ozawa?

Well, I have.

I know the route there like the back of my hand.

Quit playing around!

Do you have any idea

how much the radiation has increased?

I have no clue.

But that goes for you all too.

Don't worry.

I was on the track team in high school.

I was the Fukushima Champion in the 800-meter event.

And Tateno was on the basketball team.

Believe it or not, his team was the prefectural champion.

We're faster than anyone else here.

Naturally, radiation levels will be higher above the suppression chamber.

You'll be subject to that, both coming and going.

If we're to beat the yearly dose limit of 100 millisieverts,

we have no other option but to run.

Myself and Tateno are the best choice.

-Did you take a dosimeter? -Yes.

But we won't take ionization chamber type survey meters.

We want as light a load as possible.

Even a gram lighter will do.

You ready for this? We're going to run.

I know.

You scared?

As long as you're with me, I'm okay.

I'll put your mask on.

Yeah…

What?

What's the cause?

Maejima? Did Team 3 leave yet?

Yes. Kinoshita and Tateno left two minutes ago.

Stop them. now! Don't let them inside!

What is it?

Maejima!

Kinoshita!

Tateno!

Hello? This is Furuya.

What's going on?

We're looking into it as we speak,

but I'm told that white smoke is visible

from the Unit 1 pipeline.

Is everything okay there?

There are no abnormalities on our end.

Furu?

Kinoshita and Tateno are…

Subtitle translation by: Brad Plumb