FCT Documentary 'CHAOS: The Strong and the Weak in a Lawless Zone' Wins 63rd Galaxy Award

The documentary 'CHAOS: The Strong and the Weak in a Lawless Zone,' produced by Fukushima Central Television (FCT), has been awarded the Selection Award in the television category of the 63rd Galaxy Awards, which honors programs and individuals contributing to the advancement of broadcasting culture. As the only local station to capture footage of the nuclear hydrogen explosion, FCT has continued its reporting in Fukushima. This documentary thoroughly verifies vast amounts of footage recorded by FCT alongside new testimonies from former government officials, TEPCO personnel, and those on the front lines of the evacuation, analyzed in minute-by-minute detail. It reconsiders the fragility of crisis management and the fundamental issues facing modern Japan. The award committee praised the station's determination to expose that the 'chaos' of the nuclear accident was a man-made disaster rather than a natural one. The program centers on the horrific 'chaos' caused by a breakdown in information, revealing the vulnerability of those operating massive systems and the structure where the weak bear the brunt of the consequences. As discussions on restarting nuclear plants continue 15 years later, the production team poses an unresolved question: 'When a nuclear plant runs out of control again, who will risk their lives to stop it?'