This Week in Japan - The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

This Week's Historical Theme: Japan

 

11 March 2011

 

A significant event throughout the history of Japan that occurred in March was the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The largest earthquake ever recorded in Japan had caused massive devastation, and the subsequent tsunami decimated the Tōhoku region of north-eastern Honshu. This triggered the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The failure of its backup power and cooling systems caused the fuel rods in all three nuclear reactors to partially melt down. After several days, all three reactors would explode. Thousands of people were evacuated, as workers attempted to use helicopters, water cannons and seawater pumps to cool the facility.

 

Over the next few months, the full extent of the disaster became apparent. No deaths were initially attributed to the incident, but 18,000 people nevertheless lost their lives due to the earthquake and tsunami. As of 2021, a 371-square-kilometer "difficult-to-return-zone" remains evacuated. In 2018, the government announced that a former plant worker who had served during the meltdown was the first death officially attributed to radiation from the disaster. Today, the Fukushima incident is considered to be the second-worst nuclear disaster in history, ranking behind Chernobyl, as it forced the relocation of over 100,000 people.

 

Want to find out more about the Fukushima disaster? Click here for more information, or here for more about history's other nuclear disasters.

November 25 - The Death of Yukio Mishima

This Day in History: 25 November 2020

 

25 November 1970

 

50 years ago, today, Yukio Mishima, the world-renowned Japanese writer, died by suicide after he failed to win public support for his extreme political beliefs. Mishima was born in 1925 and was obsessed with what he saw as the spiritual barrenness of modern life. He preferred pre-war Japan, due to its patriotism and traditional values. The materialistic, westernised nation that arose after 1945 was despised by him. In this spirit, he founded the 'Shield Society', which was a controversial private army made up of about 100 students that was to defend the emperor in the event of a leftist uprising.

 

On the same day he died, Mishima delivered the last instalment of 'The Sea of Fertility' to his publisher. This was his four-volume epic on Japanese life in the 20^th century that is regarded by many to be his greatest work. He then went with many of his followers to a military building in Tokyo, before seizing control of a general's office. From there, he gave a brief speech to around 1,000 servicemen, urging them to overthrow Japan's constitution. The soldiers, however, were unsympathetic, and Mishima committed 'seppuku', otherwise known as ritual suicide, by disembowelling himself with his sword.

 

Want to find out more about the death of Yukio Mishima? Click here for more information, or here for more about the history of 'seppuku'.

November 12 - Akihito Enthroned as Japanese Emperor

This Day in History: 12 November 2020

 

12 November 1990

 

30 years ago, today, Crown Prince Akihito was enthroned as the emperor of Japan, making him the 125^th Japanese monarch along an imperial line dating back to 660 B.C. He was the only son of the late Emperor Hirohito and became the first Japanese monarch to reign solely as an official figurehead. His father had begun his reign in 1926 as absolute, but his powers were very limited in practise. After the Japanese defeat in World War II, Hirohito was stripped of his power by the United States and forced to renounce his divinity. With this signing, amending the Japanese constitution, the emperor became the official figurehead of Japan.

 

In 1959, Akihito had caused controversy when he broke a 1,500-year-old tradition by marrying a commoner. She was Shoda Michiko, the daughter of a wealthy businessman. The imperial couple subsequently had three children: Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino, and Princess Nori. When Akihito became emperor, he commenced a new Japanese era, known as 'Heisei', meaning 'achieving peace'. However, in April 2019, he stepped down from the throne, making him the first Japanese monarch to abdicate in over 200 years. He was succeeded by Naruhito.

 

Want to find out more about Akihito? Click here for more information, or here for a video of his abdication ceremony.

September 27 - The Tripartite Pact

This Day in History: 27 September 2020

 

27 September 1940

 

80 years ago, today, the Tripartite Pact was signed in Berlin between Germany, Italy, and Japan, officially forming the Axis powers. The Pact would provide for mutual assistance should any of the signatories suffer attack by any nation not already involved in the Second World War. This formalising of an alliance was aimed directly at the 'neutral' America, as it was designed to force them to think twice before drifting towards the side of the Allies. Additionally, the Pact recognised the two spheres of influence. Japan officially acknowledged 'the leadership of Germany and Italy in the establishment of a new order in Europe' while Japan was granted lordship over 'Greater East Asia'.

 

The pact was later joined by Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Croatia, as well as some countries under Japanese control. Yugoslavia's accession initiated a coup d'état in Belgrade two days later, which Germany, Italy and Hungary responded with by invading. Those countries that signed the pact agreed to give ten years of political, economic and military help to each other. However, in 1943, the pact began to fall apart. Many countries had ended their role in the war or joined the Allies. Although the Pact remained in effect until Japan's surrender in August 1945, Germany's surrender three months prior rendered the pact meaningless.

 

Want to find out more about the Tripartite Pact? Click here for more information, or here to view the text of the Pact.

History and Heritage

Here is a passionate article by Professor Richard Overy who is concerned that his subject is splitting into populist "Heritage" history and what would be regarded as inaccessbile "academic" history. It provides some interesting food for thought about the nature and direction of the subject - worth a read (as is this response) if you are preparing a UCAS personal statement!

PS: If you find any other useful / thgouht-provoking articles for UCAS preparation, please let us know.

PPS: The image is from the Tobu World Square Park in Japan - where 42 of the world's historical landmarks have been reproduced in miniature...

Japanese PM in trouble

The Japanese Prime Minister, Taro Aso, has been forced to call a general election for next month and it is likely that his party will lose. As the Liberal Democratic Party have dominated Japanese politics since World War 2, this is big news. This article from the Independent is a good examination of how Mr Aso has got into so much trouble, mainly due to the economic crisis and his tendency to make serious gaffes. (He compared his political opponents to the Nazi Party and said that the elderly "Did nothing except eat and sit around drinking" - this is the country with the largest percentage of pensioners in the world!)