Radioactive Forest 10 Years After

• 
• • 1 x 52 min.
  • Clean, M/E + English
  • English script

  • 2022
  • © NHK in co-production with CuriosityStream

  

  

Synopsis

What is happening behind nature's apparent resurgence?

The deep forest looks beautiful and healthy. But inside, it's contaminated with radioactive materials that can be harmful to life. The Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011 destroyed the region's natural environment and people's livelihoods. Tens of thousands of residents had to leave their homes and have yet to return. Some of the farms and villages where people once lived in harmony with nature are gone. But as NHK discovered through years of investigation, there are signs of hope. In areas where people have been allowed to return to their homes, rice paddies are again being cultivated. This documentary depicts the 10-year odyssey of residents and scientists who, wavering between despair and hope, are trying to find a way back to normality. With 4K footage of the region's flourishing wildlife and spectacular scenery, it shows the helplessness of humankind and the greatness of nature.