🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 14 (from laksa187)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa014.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.fastcompany.com/91054836/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-plant-reactors-melted-fuel\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.fastcompany.com/91054836/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-plant-reactors-melted-fuel\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/91054836\/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-plant-reactors-melted-fuel","crawl_time":1775464944,"first_indexed_time":1714390562,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,fastcompany!www,\/91054836\/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-plant-reactors-melted-fuel s443","src_root_hash":"6875757449678434414","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Japan marks 13 years since Fukushima nuclear plant disaster","meta_descriptions":["Following a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, a tsunami slammed into the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant—causing radiation leaks and contamination in the area."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Japan on Monday marked 13 years since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the country’s northern coasts. Nearly 20,000 people died, whole towns were wiped out, and the\nFukushima\nDaiichi nuclear power plant was destroyed, creating deep fears of radiation that linger today. As the nation observes the anniversary, the AP explains what is happening now at the plant and in neighboring areas.\nWhat happened 13 years ago?\nA magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, causing a tsunami that battered northern coastal towns in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. The tsunami, which topped 15 meters (50 feet) in some areas, slammed into the nuclear plant, destroying its power supply and fuel-cooling systems, and causing meltdowns at reactors No. 1, 2, and 3.\nHydrogen explosions caused massive radiation leaks and contamination in the area.\nThe operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), says that the tsunami couldn’t have been anticipated. Government and independent investigations and some court decisions have said the accident was the result of human error, safety negligence, lax oversight by regulators, and collusion.\nSubscribe to the Daily newsletter.\nFast Company's trending stories delivered to you every day\nJapan has since introduced stricter safety standards and, at one point, shifted to a nuclear energy phaseout. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government reversed that policy and has accelerated restarts of workable reactors to maintain nuclear power as a main source of Japan’s power supply.\nA deadly January 1 earthquake in Japan’s North Central region destroyed many homes and roads but didn’t damage an idled nuclear power plant. Even so, it caused worry that current evacuation plans that solely focus on radiation leaks could be unworkable.\nThe nation marked a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. Monday, with Kishida attending a memorial in Fukushima.\nWhat happened to people in the area?\nAbout 20,000 of more than 160,000 evacuated residents across Fukushima still haven’t returned home.\nDecontamination work before the Tokyo Olympics meant to showcase Fukushima’s recovery led to the elimination of some no-go zones, but they remain in 7 of 12 towns that had been fully or partially off-limits.\nIn Futaba, the hardest-hit town and a cohost of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, a small area was opened in 2022. About 100 people, or 1.5% of the pre-disaster population, have returned to live. The other host town, Okuma, which along with Futaba sacrificed part of its land to build an interim storage site for nuclear waste gathered from the decontamination, has seen 6% of its former residents return.\nAnnual surveys show the majority of evacuees have no intention of returning home, citing lack of jobs, schools, and lost communities, as well as radiation concerns.\nResidents who have raised radiation worries or linked it to their health problems have come under attack for hurting Fukushima’s reputation.\nThe disaster-hit towns, including those in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, have seen sharp population drops.\nFukushima Governor Masao Uchibori said on NHK-TV that a growing number of young people want to move to Fukushima to open businesses or help in the reconstruction, and he expressed hope that more residents will return.\nWhat about treated radioactive water discharges?\nLast August, Fukushima Daiichi began discharging treated water into the sea, and is currently releasing a fourth 7,800-ton batch of treated water. So far, daily seawater sampling results have met safety standards. The plan has faced protests from local fishers and neighboring countries,\nespecially China\n, which has banned Japanese seafood imports.\nFukushima Daiichi has struggled to handle the contaminated water since the 2011 meltdowns. TEPCO says the start of the process is a milestone and removing the tanks is crucial to make space for facilities needed as decommissioning progresses.\nThe contaminated cooling water is pumped up, treated, and stored in about 1,000 tanks. The government and TEPCO say the water is diluted with massive seawater before release, making it safer than international standards.\nWhat about local fishing?\nDespite earlier fears that the water discharge would further hurt Fukushima’s hard-hit fishing industry, they have not damaged its reputation domestically. China’s ban on Japanese seafood, which mostly hit scallop exporters in Hokkaido, apparently prompted Japanese consumers to eat more Fukushima seafood.\nSampling and monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency have also boosted confidence in local fish.\nFukushima fishing returned to normal operations in 2021, and the local catch is now about one-fifth of its pre-disaster level because of a decline in the fishing population and smaller catch sizes.\nThe government has earmarked 10 billion yen ($680 million) to support Fukushima fisheries.\nAny progress removing melted fuel?\nThe contents of the three reactors is still largely a mystery. Little is known, for instance, about the melted fuel’s condition or exactly where it’s located in the reactors. Not even a spoonful of the fuel has been removed.\nAbout 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel remain inside the three damaged reactors, and Japanese officials say removing it would take 30 to 40 years. Experts call that timeline overly optimistic. The amount of melted fuel is 10 times that removed from Three Mile Island following its 1979 partial-core melt.\nRobotic probes have glimpsed inside the three reactors, but their investigation has been hampered by technical glitches, high radiation, and other complications.\nIt’s crucial for officials to understand the data from melted debris so they can make a plan to remove it safely. TEPCO aims to get the first sample out later this year from the least-damaged No. 2 reactor.\nTEPCO has been trying to get the sample by using a robotic arm. Officials have struggled to get the robot past the wreckage, and hope that, by October, they can use a simpler device that looks like a fishing rod.\nThe fuel in the worst-damaged No. 1 reactor mostly fell from the core to the bottom of its primary containment vessel. Some of it penetrated and mixed with the concrete foundation, making removal extremely difficult.\nIn February, the plant made its first drone flight into the primary containment vessel to investigate the melted debris and examine how the fuel initially fell from the core. But a second day of exploration was canceled because a data transmission robot failed.\nIs a 2051 completion possible?\nThe government has stuck to its initial target for a completed decommissioning by 2051, but it hasn’t defined what that means.\nThe lack of data, technology, and plans on what to do with the radioactive melted fuel and other nuclear waste make it difficult to understand what’s in store for the plant and surrounding areas when the cleanup ends, according to TEPCO’s decommissioning company chief, Akira Ono.\nAn overly ambitious schedule could result in unnecessary radiation exposure for plant workers and excess environmental damage, experts say.\n—Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press\nThe final deadline for Fast Company's\nInnovation by Design Awards\nis Friday, April 10, at 11:59 p.m. PT.\nApply today.","attrs_markdown":"![Hamburger menu icon](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/_public\/3_line_burger.svg)\n\nLOGIN\n\n[![Fast company logo](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/_public\/fc_logo.svg)](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/)\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/subscribe?itm_source=topnav&itm_medium=button&itm_campaign=sticky)\n\n- [Premium](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/premium?itm_source=dek&itm_medium=lander&itm_campaign=main)\n- [Tech](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/technology)\n- [Design](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/co-design)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/news)\n- [Leadership](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/leadership-2)\n- [Work Life](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/work-life)\n- [Games](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/games)\n- [Podcasts](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/podcasts)\n- [Video](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/videos)\n- [INNOVATION FESTIVAL](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/section\/fast-company-innovation-festival)\n\n\\|\n\n[Custom Studio](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/fcw)\n\n- [IBM](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/fcw\/ibm)\n- [Texas A\\&M University](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/fcw\/texas-am-university)\n\n![](https:\/\/b.scorecardresearch.com\/p?c1=2&c2=6916907&cv=2.0&cj=1)\n\nadvertisement\n\n03-11-2024[IMPACT](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/ideas)\n\n[Japan marks 13 years since disaster struck Fukushima. Damaged nuclear reactors still have tons of melted fuel](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/91054836\/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-plant-reactors-melted-fuel)\n\nJapan’s government has stuck to its initial target for a completed decommissioning of the plant by 2051, but it hasn’t defined what that means.\n\nSHARE\n\nFacebook\n\nLinkedIn\n\nBluesky\n\nX\n\nLink\n\nADD ON GOOGLE\n\n![Japan marks 13 years since disaster struck Fukushima. Damaged nuclear reactors still have tons of melted fuel](https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,c_fit,w_1920,q_auto\/wp-cms\/uploads\/2024\/03\/AP24071231603805.jpg)\n\nWaves from a tsunami hit residences after a powerful earthquake in Natori, Miyagi prefecture, Japan, on March 11, 2011. Japan on Monday, March 11, 2024, marked 13 years since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the country’s northern coasts. \\[Photo: Kyodo News via AP, File\\]\n\nBY [Associated Press](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/user\/associatedpress)\n\nJapan on Monday marked 13 years since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the country’s northern coasts. Nearly 20,000 people died, whole towns were wiped out, and the [Fukushima](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/section\/fukushima) Daiichi nuclear power plant was destroyed, creating deep fears of radiation that linger today. As the nation observes the anniversary, the AP explains what is happening now at the plant and in neighboring areas.\n\n## What happened 13 years ago?\nA magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, causing a tsunami that battered northern coastal towns in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. The tsunami, which topped 15 meters (50 feet) in some areas, slammed into the nuclear plant, destroying its power supply and fuel-cooling systems, and causing meltdowns at reactors No. 1, 2, and 3.\n\nHydrogen explosions caused massive radiation leaks and contamination in the area.\n\nThe operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), says that the tsunami couldn’t have been anticipated. Government and independent investigations and some court decisions have said the accident was the result of human error, safety negligence, lax oversight by regulators, and collusion.\n\n![Daily Newsletter logo](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/_public\/fc-icon.svg)\n\nSubscribe to the Daily newsletter.Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you every day\n\n[Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.mansueto.com\/privacy-policy\/)\n\n\\|\n\n[Fast Company Newsletters](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/newsletters)\n\nJapan has since introduced stricter safety standards and, at one point, shifted to a nuclear energy phaseout. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government reversed that policy and has accelerated restarts of workable reactors to maintain nuclear power as a main source of Japan’s power supply.\n\nA deadly January 1 earthquake in Japan’s North Central region destroyed many homes and roads but didn’t damage an idled nuclear power plant. Even so, it caused worry that current evacuation plans that solely focus on radiation leaks could be unworkable.\n\nThe nation marked a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. Monday, with Kishida attending a memorial in Fukushima.\n\n## What happened to people in the area?\nAbout 20,000 of more than 160,000 evacuated residents across Fukushima still haven’t returned home.\n\nDecontamination work before the Tokyo Olympics meant to showcase Fukushima’s recovery led to the elimination of some no-go zones, but they remain in 7 of 12 towns that had been fully or partially off-limits.\n\nIn Futaba, the hardest-hit town and a cohost of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, a small area was opened in 2022. About 100 people, or 1.5% of the pre-disaster population, have returned to live. The other host town, Okuma, which along with Futaba sacrificed part of its land to build an interim storage site for nuclear waste gathered from the decontamination, has seen 6% of its former residents return.\n\nAnnual surveys show the majority of evacuees have no intention of returning home, citing lack of jobs, schools, and lost communities, as well as radiation concerns.\n\nResidents who have raised radiation worries or linked it to their health problems have come under attack for hurting Fukushima’s reputation.\n\nThe disaster-hit towns, including those in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, have seen sharp population drops.\n\nFukushima Governor Masao Uchibori said on NHK-TV that a growing number of young people want to move to Fukushima to open businesses or help in the reconstruction, and he expressed hope that more residents will return.\n\n## What about treated radioactive water discharges?\nLast August, Fukushima Daiichi began discharging treated water into the sea, and is currently releasing a fourth 7,800-ton batch of treated water. So far, daily seawater sampling results have met safety standards. The plan has faced protests from local fishers and neighboring countries, [especially China](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/90624742\/highly-irresponsible-china-fishers-blast-japans-plan-to-release-radioactive-water), which has banned Japanese seafood imports.\n\nFukushima Daiichi has struggled to handle the contaminated water since the 2011 meltdowns. TEPCO says the start of the process is a milestone and removing the tanks is crucial to make space for facilities needed as decommissioning progresses.\n\nThe contaminated cooling water is pumped up, treated, and stored in about 1,000 tanks. The government and TEPCO say the water is diluted with massive seawater before release, making it safer than international standards.\n\n## What about local fishing?\nDespite earlier fears that the water discharge would further hurt Fukushima’s hard-hit fishing industry, they have not damaged its reputation domestically. China’s ban on Japanese seafood, which mostly hit scallop exporters in Hokkaido, apparently prompted Japanese consumers to eat more Fukushima seafood.\n\nSampling and monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency have also boosted confidence in local fish.\n\nadvertisement\n\nFukushima fishing returned to normal operations in 2021, and the local catch is now about one-fifth of its pre-disaster level because of a decline in the fishing population and smaller catch sizes.\n\nThe government has earmarked 10 billion yen (\\$680 million) to support Fukushima fisheries.\n\n## Any progress removing melted fuel?\nThe contents of the three reactors is still largely a mystery. Little is known, for instance, about the melted fuel’s condition or exactly where it’s located in the reactors. Not even a spoonful of the fuel has been removed.\n\nAbout 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel remain inside the three damaged reactors, and Japanese officials say removing it would take 30 to 40 years. Experts call that timeline overly optimistic. The amount of melted fuel is 10 times that removed from Three Mile Island following its 1979 partial-core melt.\n\nRobotic probes have glimpsed inside the three reactors, but their investigation has been hampered by technical glitches, high radiation, and other complications.\n\nIt’s crucial for officials to understand the data from melted debris so they can make a plan to remove it safely. TEPCO aims to get the first sample out later this year from the least-damaged No. 2 reactor.\n\nTEPCO has been trying to get the sample by using a robotic arm. Officials have struggled to get the robot past the wreckage, and hope that, by October, they can use a simpler device that looks like a fishing rod.\n\nThe fuel in the worst-damaged No. 1 reactor mostly fell from the core to the bottom of its primary containment vessel. Some of it penetrated and mixed with the concrete foundation, making removal extremely difficult.\n\nIn February, the plant made its first drone flight into the primary containment vessel to investigate the melted debris and examine how the fuel initially fell from the core. But a second day of exploration was canceled because a data transmission robot failed.\n\n## Is a 2051 completion possible?\nThe government has stuck to its initial target for a completed decommissioning by 2051, but it hasn’t defined what that means.\n\nThe lack of data, technology, and plans on what to do with the radioactive melted fuel and other nuclear waste make it difficult to understand what’s in store for the plant and surrounding areas when the cleanup ends, according to TEPCO’s decommissioning company chief, Akira Ono.\n\nAn overly ambitious schedule could result in unnecessary radiation exposure for plant workers and excess environmental damage, experts say.\n\n*—Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press*\n\n*The final deadline for Fast Company's [Innovation by Design Awards](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/apply\/innovation-by-design?utm_source=fcwebsite&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=IBD) is Friday, April 10, at 11:59 p.m. PT. [Apply today.](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/apply\/innovation-by-design?utm_source=fcwebsite&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=IBD)*\n***\n#### Explore Topics\n- [fukushima nuclear plant](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/section\/fukushima-nuclear-plant)\n\nadvertisement\n\nFeatured Video\n\nHow American independent bookstores made a massive comeback\n\nAmazon once seemed poised to wipe out the American bookstore. As online shopping exploded in the late 1990s and early 2000s, independent shops struggled to compete with endless inventory and lower prices. By 2009, many believed indie bookstores were on the brink of extinction. But instead of disappearing, they adapted. The future of books, it turns out, isn’t just online. It’s local.\n\nMore Videos\n\n0 of 1 minute, 27 secondsVolume 0%\n\nPress shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts\n\nKeyboard Shortcuts\n\nEnabledDisabled\n\nShortcuts Open\/Close\/ or ?\n\nPlay\/PauseSPACE\n\nIncrease Volume↑\n\nDecrease Volume↓\n\nSeek Forward→\n\nSeek Backward←\n\nCaptions On\/Offc\n\nFullscreen\/Exit Fullscreenf\n\nMute\/Unmutem\n\nDecrease Caption Size\\-\n\nIncrease Caption Size\\+ or =\n\nSeek %0-9\n\nNext Up\n\nTalking techie typeface with Fast Company's creative director\n\n03:02\n\nAuto270p\n\n1080p\n\n720p\n\n406p\n\n270p\n\n180p\n\nLive\n\n00:02\n\n01:24\n\n01:27\n\nMore Videos\n\nClose\n### How American independent bookstores made a massive comeback\n\nadvertisement\n\n#### Technology↓\n[Artificial 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More↓\n[Games](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/games)\n\n[Events](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/events)\n\n[Video](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/videos)\n\n[Podcasts](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/podcasts)\n\nFast Company & Inc © 2026 Mansueto Ventures, LLC\n\n[![DAA Icon](https:\/\/assets.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/c_fit,w_32,q_auto\/v1726751516\/DAA_icon.svg)](https:\/\/www.mansueto.com\/vendor-policies\/)\n\n[Advertise](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/90516811\/fast-company-mediakit)\n\n[Careers](https:\/\/www.mansueto.com\/careers\/)\n\n[Subscribe](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/subscribe?itm_source=footer&itm_medium=button&itm_campaign=bottom)\n\n[Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.mansueto.com\/privacy-policy\/)\n\n[Notice of Collection](https:\/\/www.mansueto.com\/privacy-policy\/#collection)\n\n[Permissions](https:\/\/kudos.fastcompany.com\/)\n\n[Help Center](https:\/\/fastcompany.zendesk.com\/hc\/en-us)\n\n[About 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[Learn More](https:\/\/www.newsguardtech.com\/ratings\/rating-process-criteria\/)\n\n![](https:\/\/secure-us.imrworldwide.com\/cgi-bin\/m?ci=us-805310h&cg=0&cc=1&ts=noscript)\n\n![](https:\/\/secure-us.imrworldwide.com\/cgi-bin\/m?ci=us-805310h&cg=0&cc=1&ts=noscript)\n\n[search by queryly](https:\/\/www.queryly.com\/)\n\n[Advanced Search]()\n\n![close](https:\/\/www.queryly.com\/images\/whitecloseicon.png)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Japan on Monday marked 13 years since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the country’s northern coasts. Nearly 20,000 people died, whole towns were wiped out, and the [Fukushima](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/section\/fukushima) Daiichi nuclear power plant was destroyed, creating deep fears of radiation that linger today. As the nation observes the anniversary, the AP explains what is happening now at the plant and in neighboring areas.\n\n## What happened 13 years ago?\nA magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, causing a tsunami that battered northern coastal towns in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. The tsunami, which topped 15 meters (50 feet) in some areas, slammed into the nuclear plant, destroying its power supply and fuel-cooling systems, and causing meltdowns at reactors No. 1, 2, and 3.\n\nHydrogen explosions caused massive radiation leaks and contamination in the area.\n\nThe operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), says that the tsunami couldn’t have been anticipated. Government and independent investigations and some court decisions have said the accident was the result of human error, safety negligence, lax oversight by regulators, and collusion.\n\n![Daily Newsletter logo](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/_public\/fc-icon.svg)\n\nSubscribe to the Daily newsletter.Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you every day\n\nJapan has since introduced stricter safety standards and, at one point, shifted to a nuclear energy phaseout. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government reversed that policy and has accelerated restarts of workable reactors to maintain nuclear power as a main source of Japan’s power supply.\n\nA deadly January 1 earthquake in Japan’s North Central region destroyed many homes and roads but didn’t damage an idled nuclear power plant. Even so, it caused worry that current evacuation plans that solely focus on radiation leaks could be unworkable.\n\nThe nation marked a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. Monday, with Kishida attending a memorial in Fukushima.\n\n## What happened to people in the area?\nAbout 20,000 of more than 160,000 evacuated residents across Fukushima still haven’t returned home.\n\nDecontamination work before the Tokyo Olympics meant to showcase Fukushima’s recovery led to the elimination of some no-go zones, but they remain in 7 of 12 towns that had been fully or partially off-limits.\n\nIn Futaba, the hardest-hit town and a cohost of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, a small area was opened in 2022. About 100 people, or 1.5% of the pre-disaster population, have returned to live. The other host town, Okuma, which along with Futaba sacrificed part of its land to build an interim storage site for nuclear waste gathered from the decontamination, has seen 6% of its former residents return.\n\nAnnual surveys show the majority of evacuees have no intention of returning home, citing lack of jobs, schools, and lost communities, as well as radiation concerns.\n\nResidents who have raised radiation worries or linked it to their health problems have come under attack for hurting Fukushima’s reputation.\n\nThe disaster-hit towns, including those in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, have seen sharp population drops.\n\nFukushima Governor Masao Uchibori said on NHK-TV that a growing number of young people want to move to Fukushima to open businesses or help in the reconstruction, and he expressed hope that more residents will return.\n\n## What about treated radioactive water discharges?\nLast August, Fukushima Daiichi began discharging treated water into the sea, and is currently releasing a fourth 7,800-ton batch of treated water. So far, daily seawater sampling results have met safety standards. The plan has faced protests from local fishers and neighboring countries, [especially China](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/90624742\/highly-irresponsible-china-fishers-blast-japans-plan-to-release-radioactive-water), which has banned Japanese seafood imports.\n\nFukushima Daiichi has struggled to handle the contaminated water since the 2011 meltdowns. TEPCO says the start of the process is a milestone and removing the tanks is crucial to make space for facilities needed as decommissioning progresses.\n\nThe contaminated cooling water is pumped up, treated, and stored in about 1,000 tanks. The government and TEPCO say the water is diluted with massive seawater before release, making it safer than international standards.\n\n## What about local fishing?\nDespite earlier fears that the water discharge would further hurt Fukushima’s hard-hit fishing industry, they have not damaged its reputation domestically. China’s ban on Japanese seafood, which mostly hit scallop exporters in Hokkaido, apparently prompted Japanese consumers to eat more Fukushima seafood.\n\nSampling and monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency have also boosted confidence in local fish.\n\nFukushima fishing returned to normal operations in 2021, and the local catch is now about one-fifth of its pre-disaster level because of a decline in the fishing population and smaller catch sizes.\n\nThe government has earmarked 10 billion yen (\\$680 million) to support Fukushima fisheries.\n\n## Any progress removing melted fuel?\nThe contents of the three reactors is still largely a mystery. Little is known, for instance, about the melted fuel’s condition or exactly where it’s located in the reactors. Not even a spoonful of the fuel has been removed.\n\nAbout 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel remain inside the three damaged reactors, and Japanese officials say removing it would take 30 to 40 years. Experts call that timeline overly optimistic. The amount of melted fuel is 10 times that removed from Three Mile Island following its 1979 partial-core melt.\n\nRobotic probes have glimpsed inside the three reactors, but their investigation has been hampered by technical glitches, high radiation, and other complications.\n\nIt’s crucial for officials to understand the data from melted debris so they can make a plan to remove it safely. TEPCO aims to get the first sample out later this year from the least-damaged No. 2 reactor.\n\nTEPCO has been trying to get the sample by using a robotic arm. Officials have struggled to get the robot past the wreckage, and hope that, by October, they can use a simpler device that looks like a fishing rod.\n\nThe fuel in the worst-damaged No. 1 reactor mostly fell from the core to the bottom of its primary containment vessel. Some of it penetrated and mixed with the concrete foundation, making removal extremely difficult.\n\nIn February, the plant made its first drone flight into the primary containment vessel to investigate the melted debris and examine how the fuel initially fell from the core. But a second day of exploration was canceled because a data transmission robot failed.\n\n## Is a 2051 completion possible?\nThe government has stuck to its initial target for a completed decommissioning by 2051, but it hasn’t defined what that means.\n\nThe lack of data, technology, and plans on what to do with the radioactive melted fuel and other nuclear waste make it difficult to understand what’s in store for the plant and surrounding areas when the cleanup ends, according to TEPCO’s decommissioning company chief, Akira Ono.\n\nAn overly ambitious schedule could result in unnecessary radiation exposure for plant workers and excess environmental damage, experts say.\n\n*—Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press*\n\n*The final deadline for Fast Company's [Innovation by Design Awards](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/apply\/innovation-by-design?utm_source=fcwebsite&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=IBD) is Friday, April 10, at 11:59 p.m. PT. [Apply today.](https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/apply\/innovation-by-design?utm_source=fcwebsite&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=IBD)*","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	Japan marks 13 years since Fukushima nuclear plant disaster
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Boilerpipe Text	Japan on Monday marked 13 years since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the country’s northern coasts. Nearly 20,000 people died, whole towns were wiped out, and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was destroyed, creating deep fears of radiation that linger today. As the nation observes the anniversary, the AP explains what is happening now at the plant and in neighboring areas. What happened 13 years ago? A magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, causing a tsunami that battered northern coastal towns in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. The tsunami, which topped 15 meters (50 feet) in some areas, slammed into the nuclear plant, destroying its power supply and fuel-cooling systems, and causing meltdowns at reactors No. 1, 2, and 3. Hydrogen explosions caused massive radiation leaks and contamination in the area. The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), says that the tsunami couldn’t have been anticipated. Government and independent investigations and some court decisions have said the accident was the result of human error, safety negligence, lax oversight by regulators, and collusion. Subscribe to the Daily newsletter. Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you every day Japan has since introduced stricter safety standards and, at one point, shifted to a nuclear energy phaseout. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government reversed that policy and has accelerated restarts of workable reactors to maintain nuclear power as a main source of Japan’s power supply. A deadly January 1 earthquake in Japan’s North Central region destroyed many homes and roads but didn’t damage an idled nuclear power plant. Even so, it caused worry that current evacuation plans that solely focus on radiation leaks could be unworkable. The nation marked a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. Monday, with Kishida attending a memorial in Fukushima. What happened to people in the area? About 20,000 of more than 160,000 evacuated residents across Fukushima still haven’t returned home. Decontamination work before the Tokyo Olympics meant to showcase Fukushima’s recovery led to the elimination of some no-go zones, but they remain in 7 of 12 towns that had been fully or partially off-limits. In Futaba, the hardest-hit town and a cohost of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, a small area was opened in 2022. About 100 people, or 1.5% of the pre-disaster population, have returned to live. The other host town, Okuma, which along with Futaba sacrificed part of its land to build an interim storage site for nuclear waste gathered from the decontamination, has seen 6% of its former residents return. Annual surveys show the majority of evacuees have no intention of returning home, citing lack of jobs, schools, and lost communities, as well as radiation concerns. Residents who have raised radiation worries or linked it to their health problems have come under attack for hurting Fukushima’s reputation. The disaster-hit towns, including those in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, have seen sharp population drops. Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori said on NHK-TV that a growing number of young people want to move to Fukushima to open businesses or help in the reconstruction, and he expressed hope that more residents will return. What about treated radioactive water discharges? Last August, Fukushima Daiichi began discharging treated water into the sea, and is currently releasing a fourth 7,800-ton batch of treated water. So far, daily seawater sampling results have met safety standards. The plan has faced protests from local fishers and neighboring countries, especially China , which has banned Japanese seafood imports. Fukushima Daiichi has struggled to handle the contaminated water since the 2011 meltdowns. TEPCO says the start of the process is a milestone and removing the tanks is crucial to make space for facilities needed as decommissioning progresses. The contaminated cooling water is pumped up, treated, and stored in about 1,000 tanks. The government and TEPCO say the water is diluted with massive seawater before release, making it safer than international standards. What about local fishing? Despite earlier fears that the water discharge would further hurt Fukushima’s hard-hit fishing industry, they have not damaged its reputation domestically. China’s ban on Japanese seafood, which mostly hit scallop exporters in Hokkaido, apparently prompted Japanese consumers to eat more Fukushima seafood. Sampling and monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency have also boosted confidence in local fish. Fukushima fishing returned to normal operations in 2021, and the local catch is now about one-fifth of its pre-disaster level because of a decline in the fishing population and smaller catch sizes. The government has earmarked 10 billion yen ($680 million) to support Fukushima fisheries. Any progress removing melted fuel? The contents of the three reactors is still largely a mystery. Little is known, for instance, about the melted fuel’s condition or exactly where it’s located in the reactors. Not even a spoonful of the fuel has been removed. About 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel remain inside the three damaged reactors, and Japanese officials say removing it would take 30 to 40 years. Experts call that timeline overly optimistic. The amount of melted fuel is 10 times that removed from Three Mile Island following its 1979 partial-core melt. Robotic probes have glimpsed inside the three reactors, but their investigation has been hampered by technical glitches, high radiation, and other complications. It’s crucial for officials to understand the data from melted debris so they can make a plan to remove it safely. TEPCO aims to get the first sample out later this year from the least-damaged No. 2 reactor. TEPCO has been trying to get the sample by using a robotic arm. Officials have struggled to get the robot past the wreckage, and hope that, by October, they can use a simpler device that looks like a fishing rod. The fuel in the worst-damaged No. 1 reactor mostly fell from the core to the bottom of its primary containment vessel. Some of it penetrated and mixed with the concrete foundation, making removal extremely difficult. In February, the plant made its first drone flight into the primary containment vessel to investigate the melted debris and examine how the fuel initially fell from the core. But a second day of exploration was canceled because a data transmission robot failed. Is a 2051 completion possible? The government has stuck to its initial target for a completed decommissioning by 2051, but it hasn’t defined what that means. The lack of data, technology, and plans on what to do with the radioactive melted fuel and other nuclear waste make it difficult to understand what’s in store for the plant and surrounding areas when the cleanup ends, according to TEPCO’s decommissioning company chief, Akira Ono. An overly ambitious schedule could result in unnecessary radiation exposure for plant workers and excess environmental damage, experts say. —Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press The final deadline for Fast Company's Innovation by Design Awards is Friday, April 10, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Markdown	![Hamburger menu icon](https://www.fastcompany.com/_public/3_line_burger.svg) LOGIN [![Fast company logo](https://www.fastcompany.com/_public/fc_logo.svg)](https://www.fastcompany.com/) [SUBSCRIBE](https://www.fastcompany.com/subscribe?itm_source=topnav&itm_medium=button&itm_campaign=sticky) - [Premium](https://www.fastcompany.com/premium?itm_source=dek&itm_medium=lander&itm_campaign=main) - [Tech](https://www.fastcompany.com/technology) - [Design](https://www.fastcompany.com/co-design) - [News](https://www.fastcompany.com/news) - [Leadership](https://www.fastcompany.com/leadership-2) - [Work Life](https://www.fastcompany.com/work-life) - [Games](https://www.fastcompany.com/games) - [Podcasts](https://www.fastcompany.com/podcasts) - [Video](https://www.fastcompany.com/videos) - [INNOVATION FESTIVAL](https://www.fastcompany.com/section/fast-company-innovation-festival) \\| [Custom Studio](https://www.fastcompany.com/fcw) - [IBM](https://www.fastcompany.com/fcw/ibm) - [Texas A\&M University](https://www.fastcompany.com/fcw/texas-am-university) ![](https://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=6916907&cv=2.0&cj=1) advertisement 03-11-2024[IMPACT](https://www.fastcompany.com/ideas) [Japan marks 13 years since disaster struck Fukushima. Damaged nuclear reactors still have tons of melted fuel](https://www.fastcompany.com/91054836/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-plant-reactors-melted-fuel) Japan’s government has stuck to its initial target for a completed decommissioning of the plant by 2051, but it hasn’t defined what that means. SHARE Facebook LinkedIn Bluesky X Link ADD ON GOOGLE ![Japan marks 13 years since disaster struck Fukushima. Damaged nuclear reactors still have tons of melted fuel](https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/f_webp,c_fit,w_1920,q_auto/wp-cms/uploads/2024/03/AP24071231603805.jpg) Waves from a tsunami hit residences after a powerful earthquake in Natori, Miyagi prefecture, Japan, on March 11, 2011. Japan on Monday, March 11, 2024, marked 13 years since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the country’s northern coasts. \[Photo: Kyodo News via AP, File\] BY [Associated Press](https://www.fastcompany.com/user/associatedpress) Japan on Monday marked 13 years since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the country’s northern coasts. Nearly 20,000 people died, whole towns were wiped out, and the [Fukushima](https://www.fastcompany.com/section/fukushima) Daiichi nuclear power plant was destroyed, creating deep fears of radiation that linger today. As the nation observes the anniversary, the AP explains what is happening now at the plant and in neighboring areas. ## What happened 13 years ago? A magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, causing a tsunami that battered northern coastal towns in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. The tsunami, which topped 15 meters (50 feet) in some areas, slammed into the nuclear plant, destroying its power supply and fuel-cooling systems, and causing meltdowns at reactors No. 1, 2, and 3. Hydrogen explosions caused massive radiation leaks and contamination in the area. The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), says that the tsunami couldn’t have been anticipated. Government and independent investigations and some court decisions have said the accident was the result of human error, safety negligence, lax oversight by regulators, and collusion. ![Daily Newsletter logo](https://www.fastcompany.com/_public/fc-icon.svg) Subscribe to the Daily newsletter.Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you every day [Privacy Policy](https://www.mansueto.com/privacy-policy/) \\| [Fast Company Newsletters](https://www.fastcompany.com/newsletters) Japan has since introduced stricter safety standards and, at one point, shifted to a nuclear energy phaseout. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government reversed that policy and has accelerated restarts of workable reactors to maintain nuclear power as a main source of Japan’s power supply. A deadly January 1 earthquake in Japan’s North Central region destroyed many homes and roads but didn’t damage an idled nuclear power plant. Even so, it caused worry that current evacuation plans that solely focus on radiation leaks could be unworkable. The nation marked a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. Monday, with Kishida attending a memorial in Fukushima. ## What happened to people in the area? About 20,000 of more than 160,000 evacuated residents across Fukushima still haven’t returned home. Decontamination work before the Tokyo Olympics meant to showcase Fukushima’s recovery led to the elimination of some no-go zones, but they remain in 7 of 12 towns that had been fully or partially off-limits. In Futaba, the hardest-hit town and a cohost of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, a small area was opened in 2022. About 100 people, or 1.5% of the pre-disaster population, have returned to live. The other host town, Okuma, which along with Futaba sacrificed part of its land to build an interim storage site for nuclear waste gathered from the decontamination, has seen 6% of its former residents return. Annual surveys show the majority of evacuees have no intention of returning home, citing lack of jobs, schools, and lost communities, as well as radiation concerns. Residents who have raised radiation worries or linked it to their health problems have come under attack for hurting Fukushima’s reputation. The disaster-hit towns, including those in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, have seen sharp population drops. Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori said on NHK-TV that a growing number of young people want to move to Fukushima to open businesses or help in the reconstruction, and he expressed hope that more residents will return. ## What about treated radioactive water discharges? Last August, Fukushima Daiichi began discharging treated water into the sea, and is currently releasing a fourth 7,800-ton batch of treated water. So far, daily seawater sampling results have met safety standards. The plan has faced protests from local fishers and neighboring countries, [especially China](https://www.fastcompany.com/90624742/highly-irresponsible-china-fishers-blast-japans-plan-to-release-radioactive-water), which has banned Japanese seafood imports. Fukushima Daiichi has struggled to handle the contaminated water since the 2011 meltdowns. TEPCO says the start of the process is a milestone and removing the tanks is crucial to make space for facilities needed as decommissioning progresses. The contaminated cooling water is pumped up, treated, and stored in about 1,000 tanks. The government and TEPCO say the water is diluted with massive seawater before release, making it safer than international standards. ## What about local fishing? Despite earlier fears that the water discharge would further hurt Fukushima’s hard-hit fishing industry, they have not damaged its reputation domestically. China’s ban on Japanese seafood, which mostly hit scallop exporters in Hokkaido, apparently prompted Japanese consumers to eat more Fukushima seafood. Sampling and monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency have also boosted confidence in local fish. advertisement Fukushima fishing returned to normal operations in 2021, and the local catch is now about one-fifth of its pre-disaster level because of a decline in the fishing population and smaller catch sizes. The government has earmarked 10 billion yen (\$680 million) to support Fukushima fisheries. ## Any progress removing melted fuel? The contents of the three reactors is still largely a mystery. Little is known, for instance, about the melted fuel’s condition or exactly where it’s located in the reactors. Not even a spoonful of the fuel has been removed. About 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel remain inside the three damaged reactors, and Japanese officials say removing it would take 30 to 40 years. Experts call that timeline overly optimistic. The amount of melted fuel is 10 times that removed from Three Mile Island following its 1979 partial-core melt. Robotic probes have glimpsed inside the three reactors, but their investigation has been hampered by technical glitches, high radiation, and other complications. It’s crucial for officials to understand the data from melted debris so they can make a plan to remove it safely. TEPCO aims to get the first sample out later this year from the least-damaged No. 2 reactor. TEPCO has been trying to get the sample by using a robotic arm. Officials have struggled to get the robot past the wreckage, and hope that, by October, they can use a simpler device that looks like a fishing rod. The fuel in the worst-damaged No. 1 reactor mostly fell from the core to the bottom of its primary containment vessel. Some of it penetrated and mixed with the concrete foundation, making removal extremely difficult. In February, the plant made its first drone flight into the primary containment vessel to investigate the melted debris and examine how the fuel initially fell from the core. But a second day of exploration was canceled because a data transmission robot failed. ## Is a 2051 completion possible? The government has stuck to its initial target for a completed decommissioning by 2051, but it hasn’t defined what that means. The lack of data, technology, and plans on what to do with the radioactive melted fuel and other nuclear waste make it difficult to understand what’s in store for the plant and surrounding areas when the cleanup ends, according to TEPCO’s decommissioning company chief, Akira Ono. An overly ambitious schedule could result in unnecessary radiation exposure for plant workers and excess environmental damage, experts say. —Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press The final deadline for Fast Company's [Innovation by Design Awards](https://www.fastcompany.com/apply/innovation-by-design?utm_source=fcwebsite&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=IBD) is Friday, April 10, at 11:59 p.m. PT. [Apply today.](https://www.fastcompany.com/apply/innovation-by-design?utm_source=fcwebsite&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=IBD) *** #### Explore Topics - [fukushima nuclear plant](https://www.fastcompany.com/section/fukushima-nuclear-plant) advertisement Featured Video How American independent bookstores made a massive comeback Amazon once seemed poised to wipe out the American bookstore. As online shopping exploded in the late 1990s and early 2000s, independent shops struggled to compete with endless inventory and lower prices. By 2009, many believed indie bookstores were on the brink of extinction. 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Readable Markdown	Japan on Monday marked 13 years since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the country’s northern coasts. Nearly 20,000 people died, whole towns were wiped out, and the [Fukushima](https://www.fastcompany.com/section/fukushima) Daiichi nuclear power plant was destroyed, creating deep fears of radiation that linger today. As the nation observes the anniversary, the AP explains what is happening now at the plant and in neighboring areas. ## What happened 13 years ago? A magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, causing a tsunami that battered northern coastal towns in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. The tsunami, which topped 15 meters (50 feet) in some areas, slammed into the nuclear plant, destroying its power supply and fuel-cooling systems, and causing meltdowns at reactors No. 1, 2, and 3. Hydrogen explosions caused massive radiation leaks and contamination in the area. The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), says that the tsunami couldn’t have been anticipated. Government and independent investigations and some court decisions have said the accident was the result of human error, safety negligence, lax oversight by regulators, and collusion. ![Daily Newsletter logo](https://www.fastcompany.com/_public/fc-icon.svg) Subscribe to the Daily newsletter.Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you every day Japan has since introduced stricter safety standards and, at one point, shifted to a nuclear energy phaseout. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government reversed that policy and has accelerated restarts of workable reactors to maintain nuclear power as a main source of Japan’s power supply. A deadly January 1 earthquake in Japan’s North Central region destroyed many homes and roads but didn’t damage an idled nuclear power plant. Even so, it caused worry that current evacuation plans that solely focus on radiation leaks could be unworkable. The nation marked a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. Monday, with Kishida attending a memorial in Fukushima. ## What happened to people in the area? About 20,000 of more than 160,000 evacuated residents across Fukushima still haven’t returned home. Decontamination work before the Tokyo Olympics meant to showcase Fukushima’s recovery led to the elimination of some no-go zones, but they remain in 7 of 12 towns that had been fully or partially off-limits. In Futaba, the hardest-hit town and a cohost of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, a small area was opened in 2022. About 100 people, or 1.5% of the pre-disaster population, have returned to live. The other host town, Okuma, which along with Futaba sacrificed part of its land to build an interim storage site for nuclear waste gathered from the decontamination, has seen 6% of its former residents return. Annual surveys show the majority of evacuees have no intention of returning home, citing lack of jobs, schools, and lost communities, as well as radiation concerns. Residents who have raised radiation worries or linked it to their health problems have come under attack for hurting Fukushima’s reputation. The disaster-hit towns, including those in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, have seen sharp population drops. Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori said on NHK-TV that a growing number of young people want to move to Fukushima to open businesses or help in the reconstruction, and he expressed hope that more residents will return. ## What about treated radioactive water discharges? Last August, Fukushima Daiichi began discharging treated water into the sea, and is currently releasing a fourth 7,800-ton batch of treated water. So far, daily seawater sampling results have met safety standards. The plan has faced protests from local fishers and neighboring countries, [especially China](https://www.fastcompany.com/90624742/highly-irresponsible-china-fishers-blast-japans-plan-to-release-radioactive-water), which has banned Japanese seafood imports. Fukushima Daiichi has struggled to handle the contaminated water since the 2011 meltdowns. TEPCO says the start of the process is a milestone and removing the tanks is crucial to make space for facilities needed as decommissioning progresses. The contaminated cooling water is pumped up, treated, and stored in about 1,000 tanks. The government and TEPCO say the water is diluted with massive seawater before release, making it safer than international standards. ## What about local fishing? Despite earlier fears that the water discharge would further hurt Fukushima’s hard-hit fishing industry, they have not damaged its reputation domestically. China’s ban on Japanese seafood, which mostly hit scallop exporters in Hokkaido, apparently prompted Japanese consumers to eat more Fukushima seafood. Sampling and monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency have also boosted confidence in local fish. Fukushima fishing returned to normal operations in 2021, and the local catch is now about one-fifth of its pre-disaster level because of a decline in the fishing population and smaller catch sizes. The government has earmarked 10 billion yen (\$680 million) to support Fukushima fisheries. ## Any progress removing melted fuel? The contents of the three reactors is still largely a mystery. Little is known, for instance, about the melted fuel’s condition or exactly where it’s located in the reactors. Not even a spoonful of the fuel has been removed. About 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel remain inside the three damaged reactors, and Japanese officials say removing it would take 30 to 40 years. Experts call that timeline overly optimistic. The amount of melted fuel is 10 times that removed from Three Mile Island following its 1979 partial-core melt. Robotic probes have glimpsed inside the three reactors, but their investigation has been hampered by technical glitches, high radiation, and other complications. It’s crucial for officials to understand the data from melted debris so they can make a plan to remove it safely. TEPCO aims to get the first sample out later this year from the least-damaged No. 2 reactor. TEPCO has been trying to get the sample by using a robotic arm. Officials have struggled to get the robot past the wreckage, and hope that, by October, they can use a simpler device that looks like a fishing rod. The fuel in the worst-damaged No. 1 reactor mostly fell from the core to the bottom of its primary containment vessel. Some of it penetrated and mixed with the concrete foundation, making removal extremely difficult. In February, the plant made its first drone flight into the primary containment vessel to investigate the melted debris and examine how the fuel initially fell from the core. But a second day of exploration was canceled because a data transmission robot failed. ## Is a 2051 completion possible? The government has stuck to its initial target for a completed decommissioning by 2051, but it hasn’t defined what that means. The lack of data, technology, and plans on what to do with the radioactive melted fuel and other nuclear waste make it difficult to understand what’s in store for the plant and surrounding areas when the cleanup ends, according to TEPCO’s decommissioning company chief, Akira Ono. An overly ambitious schedule could result in unnecessary radiation exposure for plant workers and excess environmental damage, experts say. —Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press The final deadline for Fast Company's [Innovation by Design Awards](https://www.fastcompany.com/apply/innovation-by-design?utm_source=fcwebsite&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=IBD) is Friday, April 10, at 11:59 p.m. PT. [Apply today.](https://www.fastcompany.com/apply/innovation-by-design?utm_source=fcwebsite&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=IBD)
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