COMPLETION REPORT
Nuclear and Japanese Literature: A Comparative Study on Nuclear Controversy within
Japanese Literary Works Published Before and Post Fukushima Nuclear Accident 2011
Mohammad Gandhi Amannullah
Permanent Lecturer and Researcher
Department of Japanese Studies, Faculty of Humanities
Universitas Airlangga
Research Report
Nuclear and Japanese Literature: A Comparative Study on Nuclear Controversy within Japanese
Literary Works Published Before and Post Fukushima Nuclear Accident March 11, 2011 (3.11)
by: Moh. Gandhi Amanullah (moh-g-a@fib.unair.ac.id)
Syahrur Marta Dwisusilo (syahrur-m-d@fib.unair.ac.id)
This study aims to examine: the controversy of the use of nuclear power plant (NPP) represented inJapanese literary works (fiction) that emerge before and after 3.11., and secondly, to examine the role ofliterary works in raising Japanese people’s awareness concerning nuclear. To address the first goal,
analyzing was conducted to selected novels: Tenku no Hachi by Higashino Keigo, Banken wa Niwa o
Mamoru by Iwai Shunji, Hikariare by Hase Seishuu, Kousen by Murata Kiyoko, Koisuru Genpatsu byTakahashi Genichirou.
To address the second one, a survey was conducted to Japanese university students from October 18 –November 5, 2019. The 400 sets of questionnaires were distributed to the students of Ryutsu Keizai
University, Tokyo Denki University, Nihon University, Chuo University, Shizuoka University ArtsCulture, Ritsumeikan University, Kumamoto University, and Nagasaki University.
The results of the first analysis are, NPP depicted as a place carrying a high risk to terrorist attacks, ananxiety that one day NPP will leak radiation similar to what happened at Chernobyl and Three Miles,
complaints to nuclear taboo, and the story of pros-cons of people living near NPP, and the pessimistic
about the use of NPP. The literary works of post 3.11 tells story about: criticism of safety myths of NPP,
the lives of victims suffering from nuclear radiation, long-term negative effects of NPP, positive effectsof treatment using nuclear, resistance to nuclear taboo, and the lives of victims who suffered the 2011
Fukushima NPP accident.
The result of the second analysis are:Most of the Japanese students do not want Japan to utilize nuclear energy anymore (61%) and stillbelieving that a nuclear accident will one day occur (87%).
Most students get information about nuclear and its risks through TV (85%), internet (77%),
newspapers (34%), and social media (31%). While those who know about nuclear through literatureare very few (2%).
The number of students who have read literature on disaster-related portions is very low, with nomore than 20% or only 73 students from 376 students, and within that portion, the number who haveread fiction about nuclear, even smaller, no more than 11% or only 39 students.
Based on the above research, actions can be required in the future perhaps are as follows:
Nuclear-themed literary works are widely published in Japan, but are very little to be consumed(appreciated) among Japanese students. The study of disaster literature should be encouraged inJapanese schools and universities.
Other countries, especially of those which have not been had a NPP can take a lesson about theJapanese experience through their literary works, because they are not only expressing post-accident
situations, but also expressing the deep feelings of people living nearby NPP.
October 19, 2020
Moh. Gandhi Amanullah, Syahrur Marta Dwisusilo

Publication of the Results of Research Project:
Verbal Presentation (Date, Venue, Name of Conference, Title of Presentation, Presenter, etc.)
2nd International Conference on Japanese Studies Language Education (ICJSLE) 2020
October 24, 2020 – October 25, 2020
http://conference.aspbji.id/index.php/icjsle/icjsle/paper/view/17
Title of presentation:
Nuclear Power Plants and Literary Works: Describing the Isolation Zone of Fukushima in Taguchi
Randy's Novel "Zoon nite"
Presenter: Moh. Gandhi Amanullah- Some researched novels have been discussed in Japanese Literary Class conducted in the firstsemester of September – December 2019, at the Department of Japanese Studies, Faculty ofHumanities, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia.

Thesis (Name of Journal and its Date, Title and Author of Thesis, etc.)
Thesis:The Anti-Nuclear Movement of Post 3.11 in Japan(Dissertation of Doctoral Program at Media and Cultural Studies, Graduate School, Universitas Gadjah
Mada Yogyakarta.

Book (Publisher and Date of the Book, Title and Author of the Book, etc.)
not yet