Introduction to a Broader Topic
The current topics related to politics and society in Japan include the death penalty, returning to Fukushima, and reopening to mass tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, I want to write about the Fukushima tragedy and its consequences because of the recent decision to invite citizens back to the town. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake occurred near Japan’s east coast on March 11, 2011, causing a tsunami that triggered a nuclear meltdown at the nuclear plant and a large leak of radioactive particles (Juzoka & Yeung, 2022).
Nonetheless, after over a decade, the town of Japan, specifically Futaba, which houses the decommissioned Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, has officially lifted its mandatory evacuation order. Moreover, it was the most severe nuclear accident in the world since Chornobyl. Authorities began planning for Futaba’s reopening in 2022, for instance, by launching a program in January that enabled former inhabitants to return temporarily; however, only 85 individuals from 52 houses participated (Juzoka & Yeung, 2022).
Specific Topics and Questions
Determining radiation levels acceptable does not automatically alleviate citizens’ concerns about the impacts of radioactive contamination (Hori et al., 2021). The questions are: how many people will return, are citizens ready to live in Futaba, and how long will it take for the city to rebuild? Thus, the broad topic of the Fukushima tragedy can be broken down into:
- Fukushima history.
- The recent announcement on lifting the evacuation order.
- Programs to enable citizens to return to Futaba.
- Citizens’ concerns regarding living in the area.
The potential questions related to the topic that can be asked are:
- Why did the Fukushima tragedy happen, and what were the consequences?
- Is it safe to return to the city in 2023?
- What are the risks and concerns, including health issues (Tanigawa, 2021)?
The Most Interseting Question
Therefore, the research question I am interested in will be evaluative, demonstrating the pros and cons of returning to Futaba. The question should be formulated more precisely: What are the opportunities and concerns of returning to the Futaba in 2023 after the official announcement of lifting the evacuation order for the decommissioned Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power facility?
The research question is narrow enough to be well addressed within the allotted timeframe, yet complex enough to necessitate an investigation and analysis of the present situation. It is crucial to consider the path the answer might take and how others might challenge my arguments. The issue is vital and ongoing; academic sources are available to evaluate the benefits and disadvantages of the evacuation lifting decision. The list of useful keywords includes Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power, Japan, nuclear tragedy, mandatory evacuation, and Futaba’s reopening.
Conclusion
The study subject encompasses what I want to examine, no more and no less, and the research question seeks to explore what I aim to investigate. Because ‘the Fukushima tragedy’ is a vast issue, it was narrowed down to a recent occurrence of lifting evacuation, highlighting the timeline, particularly 2023. A decisive research question should also pass the ‘so what?’ test. It is essential to understand the potential value and significance of addressing the research question.
More than eighty percent of the town is categorized as a difficult-to-return zone, with significant amounts of radiation (Juzoka & Yeung, 2022). Futaba has a long way to recover if other Japanese cities devastated by the 2011 nuclear catastrophe are any warning. Juzoka and Yeung (2022) argue that places where evacuation orders were removed some years ago have continued to confront difficulties. Hence, I provided a clear and compelling reason for asking that question and will attempt to answer it in an evaluative manner.
References
Hori, A., Ozaki, A., Murakami, M., & Tsubokura, M. (2021). Development of behavior abnormalities in a patient prevented from returning home after evacuation following the Fukushima nuclear disaster: Case report. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 15(6), 804-807.
Juzoka, E., & Yeung, J. (2022). Fukushima town lifts evacuation order, allowing former residents to return 11 years after nuclear disaster. CNN.
Tanigawa, K. (2021). Health issues today in affected areas near Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Annals of the ICRP, 50 (1_suppl), 90-94.