On March 11, 2011, an earthquake caused a diastrous tsunami in Japan. This tsunami disabled the AC (or alternating currents of energy) to the power plant. Operating reactors shut down immediately. Fuel tanks for emergency generators were carried away. The cooling system in units 1,2, and 3 failed. Efforts were made to reduce the pressure inside the plant. However, nothing helped stop the hydrogen explosions that completely destroyed the facility. (Anzai, Kazunori.)
Due to the explosions and shut down of the entire plant, radioactive materials were released into the air and water. These products included volatile iodine-131 and  caesium-137. People were obviously forced to evacuate. By the next day, March 12, they extended the evacuation zone to 20km from the power plant. On March 16, Japan ordered that all persons under the age of 40 leave the evacuation zone further and recieve suppliments to help them from the poisonous toxins they may have injested. Considerable work was further done on the evacution zone to help reduce the amount of radioactivity. (“Radiation Declines..”).
Japan is now taking further actions to improve their energy. Japan is turning towards natural gas as their new source of energy. IHS.com states, ”

The markets for natural gas are growing stronger in industry and power, and the adoption of LNG in transportation signals a fundamental change in consumption patterns. 2013 will be the critical year for Japan as it plans and invests in its new energy future, with natural gas as a central pillar of its energy mix. All of these decisions require comprehensive, reliable and in-depth understanding of the new global energy reality.”. This is something that many countries have been looking into. The option of natural gas is cheaper and less harmful to the enviornment. After the terrible Fukushima accident in 2011, Japan drastically needs a turn around. (“Japan’s New…”).

Source:

Anzai, Kazunori, Nobuhiko Ban, Toshihiko Ozawa, and Shinji Tokonami. “Abstract.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 09 Dec. 2011. Web. 08 Mar. 2013. <

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3246178/>.

“Japan’s New Energy Quest.” IHS Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2013. <

http://www.ihs.com/products/cera/multi-client-studies/japan-energy-quest.aspx>.

“Radiation Declines at Fukushima.” Fukushima Accident 2011. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2013. <

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Safety-and-Security/Safety-of- Plants/Fukushima-Accident-2011/>.