Disaster Memories and Other Thoughts on the Fukushima Nuclear Reactors, The Military Industrial Complex, the Ainu, and National Sovereignty

Abstract

It is the irony of ironies that the only country on Earth ever attacked by the nuclear bomb is now facing the peril of massive radioactive contamination from another nuclear crisis. The country bombed by both the Enola Gay and Bockscar, the country that experienced deadly "black rain" and massive human annihilation at the end of WWII, is now confronted not only by the outcome of the natural catastrophes caused by earthquakes and tsunami waves, but also the man-made disaster of massive radiation leaks from nuclear reactors in Fukushima. As of today, nearly 30,000 people are reported dead or missing due to the destruction caused by the earthquake and tidal waves. Most of these deaths and structural damages occurred in the Prefecture of Miyagi, the prefecture being Japan's geopolitical jurisdiction equivalent to statehood in the United States. On the other hand, the nuclear disaster in the nuclear plant in Fukushima, south of Miyagi, has yet to kill anyone. Nonetheless, the massive radiation leaks will threaten the lives of tens of millions of people in the northern and central region of Japan for many years to come.

Keywords: Post-war memories, Fukushima nuclear disaster, Ainu, Haiti, Hitachi, General Electric, nuclear power plant