Surviving Internal Exposure

The documentary reports on the issues surrounding the construction of the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant in Aomori Prefecture, especially focusing on the lives of the nearby residents who, while nervous about the dangers of radiation, continue living near the plant. It also covers the protests against the plant.

For 28 years, the people of Iwaishima Island, living in the middle of the bountiful Inland Sea, have been opposing a plan to build a nuclear power plant. The island has a 1000 - year history during which people have preserved their traditional festival. Takashi, the youngest on the island , is struggling to earn his living. He dreams of a life based on sustainable energy. Meanwhile, communities in Sweden are making an effort to implement such lives. The people living in the Arctic circle have taken action to overcome damage from the global economy. On Iwaishima, Mr. Ujimoto has begun sustainable agriculture by reclaiming aban-doned farmlands. But a power company tries to fill in a bay to create man-made land. The people of the island set sail together to stop the construction of the nuclear power plant. A fight breaks out on the sea.

The name Fukushima has become a synonym for the dangers of nuclear energy, much like Chernobyl. Director Hitomi KAMANAKA analyzes the parallels between the two disasters, travelling to the affected regions in Japan and Belarus. Her interest and compassion lies with the families, especially the children and their mothers who try to protect them. This film lets their voices be heard.