From Japan Sinks: 2020 to Fukushima 50: How film and TV captured survival and loss after Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami

Time of India

3 days ago

Early Wednesday, the sea rose once again as a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Russia, triggering tsunami waves that surged across the Pacific. The waves reached Hawaii, California, Guam, and Washington. Russia's Kuril Islands were among the first hit, prompting a state of emergency. Even Japan, a nation long accustomed to disaster, felt the tremors in Hokkaido and parts of Tokyo.
Tsunami warnings stretched across the map, from Alaska to New Zealand. The quake was described as the most violent since Japan's catastrophic 2011 megaquake, which shocked the world as entire communities were swallowed by water and a nuclear crisis erupted. But while facts make headlines, it's the personal stories that stay with us. For Japan, earthquakes and tsunamis are not just natural disasters - they are scars, memories, and survival tales woven into the nation's cultural fabric.
Over the years, filmmakers and creators have turned to anime, documentaries, and dramas to tell stories that facts alone cannot - stories of loss, resilience, hope, and the quiet courage to begin again. Here are some of the most powerful portrayals of what happens when the sea rises, the ground splits, and humanity is left to pick up the pieces.
Fukushima 50 (Film)
Where to watch: Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Google Play, Tubi, and iQIYI (availability varies by region)
The term 'Fukushima 50' refers to a group of courageous workers who remained at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear crisis. Though the actual number varied, these engineers and technicians risked their lives to prevent a full-scale meltdown - becoming enduring symbols of bravery and sacrifice.
The Days (Series)
Where to watch: Netflix
Released on June 1, 2023, this Japanese biographical drama follows government officials and workers at Fukushima Daiichi in the immediate aftermath of the 2011 disaster. The series captures the chaos and consequences of their decisions, depicting them as both heroes and scapegoats in the face of an invisible, deadly threat.
Cans of Hope (Short Documentary)
Where to watch: IMDb
This short documentary follows the revival of Kinoya Ishinomaki Suisan - a canning company in Ishinomaki - and the surrounding town as they rebuild in the years following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
The Asadas (Movie)
Where to watch: MUBI, Plex, JustWatch
Set in the wake of a tsunami and nuclear meltdown, this biographical drama follows a young photographer who copes with personal loss by capturing heartfelt portraits of his family. Written by Ryōta Nakano and Tomoe Kanno, and directed by Nakano, the film was selected for the Warsaw Film Festival and the 26th Busan International Film Festival.
Japan Sinks: 2020 (Anime)
Where to watch: Netflix
Adapted from Sakyo Komatsu's 1973 disaster novel Japan Sinks, this anime by Devilman Crybaby director Masaaki Yuasa follows a family's survival as Japan is struck by massive earthquakes. Komatsu's novel earned critical acclaim, winning the Mystery Writers of Japan Award and the Seiun Award. It was translated into English in 1975, reissued after the 1995 Osaka-Kobe earthquake, and followed by a sequel co-written with Kōshū Tani in 2006.
Japan's Tragedy (Drama)
Where to watch: The Criterion Channel, MUBI, Plex
Set in 2010, a year when over 31,000 people died by suicide and nearly 20,000 were lost in a major earthquake, this poignant drama centers on Fujio Murai, an unemployed widower diagnosed with lung cancer. Refusing treatment, he returns to his hometown with his son Yoshio, navigating personal grief amidst a nation's collective sorrow.
Debris (Documentary)
Where to watch: Culture Unplugged
This short documentary follows Pete Clarkson, a park ranger and 'intertidal artist' in Tofino, British Columbia, as he creates a memorial to the victims of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Made entirely from marine debris washed ashore from the disaster, it stands as a tribute of compassion and creativity.
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