[The Days Review Netflix] Record of the valuable story of Fukushima nuclear disaster.

The Days The Japanese original Netflix series, consisting of 8 episodes, meticulously explores the details of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster from various perspectives. It focuses on the actual events that unfolded during the tense and stressful 7-day period, showcasing the viewpoints of both the government and the workers of Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, who were the frontline workers at that time

 The Days Trailer

The Days Review Netflix

On March 11, 2011, at 14:46 JST, a massive earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, approximately 130 kilometers east of Sendai. The earthquake, known as the Great East Japan Earthquake, reached a maximum intensity of level 7, as recorded in the city of Kurihara. Just one hour later, a 15-meter high tsunami wave devastated the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which became the epicenter of the entire nightmare. With the cooling system malfunctioning, the power plant was left in a dangerously uncontrollable state.

The series narrates the story in a detailed sequence, starting with the earthquake event followed by the tsunami. The depiction of the scenes is well-done to some extent, although not excessively invested (it can be seen as simulated scenes). This, however, results in the opening segment of the first episode not being as impressive as one might expect.

 

ut what the series excels at is delving deep into the aftermath and meticulously depicting the minute-by-minute details of the events that unfolded. It features a plethora of characters, ranging from workers at all levels to government officials. Everything portrayed is based on real events, and every person depicted has a real identity. Every incident can be confirmed as something that actually happened, without any embellishments or melodramatic additions. Therefore, what we witness is a highly detailed account, presented in a comprehensive manner that no news coverage has ever provided before. Even the Japanese themselves believe that they have never heard or learned such in-depth information. It also serves as a record that focuses on seeking the truth behind the mistakes that occurred and where the faults lie, whether it be the incompetence of the government or the shortcomings of Tepco, the company responsible for the nuclear power plant. The subsequent investigations concluded that it was indeed Tepco’s failure to implement adequate safety measures. The series showcases these errors directly, without any cover-ups or distortions. It even highlights the inadequacy of the government officials who were ill-prepared to handle such a massive disaster, despite being the disaster response team of Japan.

Although the series presents various issues and mistakes, what’s commendable is that it doesn’t directly attack anyone but rather presents the real story without rushing to blame anyone. The situation at that time was a life-and-death minute for Japan, and everyone was doing their best to cope with the crisis. The series portrays the actions of these heroes in an event where they themselves had no knowledge of how to handle it. Everything was trial and error. Even though viewers already know that the series concludes without the nuclear power plant exploding, it still manages to evoke emotions of shock, tension, excitement, bravery, and uncertainty about what will happen next. The story is filled with heroic characters who are ready to sacrifice their lives., mostly elderly workers who willingly took on the task in place of younger individuals, even willing to sacrifice their lives with honor to ensure the success of their mission, without any guarantee of a 100% success rate. It’s a problem-solving approach that nobody has ever attempted before, and it is presented in a way that is gripping and inspiring.

The series also makes it clear from the beginning to the end, revealing the root cause and the outcome of the story. It explores the origins of the nuclear power plant, which emerged during the industrial revolution when there was a high demand for energy. The Japanese people believed it to be the energy of the future. However, it is now understood that it is not the case. The events in this story vividly demonstrate that this form of energy is dangerously uncontrollable beyond human capacity. Even after a decade has passed since the incident, the management of the Fukushima power plant is still ongoing. The area surrounding the plant remains uninhabitable, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced. It has become a devastated zone similar to Chernobyl. If the situation is not properly controlled, Japan would undoubtedly collapse. Therefore, this is not the envisioned energy of the future as dreamt before.

One of the things that this series has done exceptionally well is to make the viewers understand the detail of nuclear power more clearly. Despite the abundance of technical terminology used in the story, it is presented in a way that is easily comprehensible. There are comparisons made to illustrate various aspects, including the clear depiction of the resulting impacts.

This is a truly valuable series, not only for those who are interested in delving into the detailed story, but also as a record of events that imparts important lessons for the world. It sheds light on the harsh reality of the dangers posed by nuclear energy, which humans cannot fully control, no matter how much they claim it to be safe.

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