The Westland Case

Two weeks after the Fukushima nuclear accident, a worst-case scenario was delivered to the prime minister who would risk their lives to rein in the reactors? Key actors revisit those tense days.

The cars are world-famous; much sought after by collectors, idolized by car fans – the Mercedes-Benz 540K, built from 1936 to 1938. For some, these cars represent the ultimate in vehicle design. Here is the story of Mercedes-Benz recreating one forgotten version of this beautiful vehicle.

In the worst possible outcome of the nuclear accident, what situation would Japan face? In that case, what should be done? Immediately after the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, the government, the US military and the Self-Defense Forces each began to secretly develop worst-case scenarios. For this program, we interviewed more than 100 government and industry officials, including then-prime minister Kan Naoto and then-defense minister Kitazawa Toshimi. The question that emerged in stark relief was: Who would be called upon to risk their lives to stop the runaway nuclear reactors?