Nuclear Cattle

Produced by Power-I, Inc.

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Documentary Feature

Press Release

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Tag line

This is the story of innocent cattle farmers forced from the hills they’ve called home for decades due to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Nuclear Cattle

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Basic Information

Nuclear Cattle

Film Type Documentary Feature

Genres Current Affair, Human Right

Runtime 98 minutes for Cinema , 52 minutes for TV

Completion day July/30/2016

Country of Filming Japan

Language Japanese

Subtitle English

Technical Information

Format Digital, HD

Aspect Ratio 16:9

Film Color Color

Sound Stereo

After occurring the nuclear accident, an area within 14 miles of Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant was designated as the No-entry zone. Japanese government notified each prefecture to treat all of cattle by killing in the area after two months. It is so as not to make distribute contaminated meat by radiation. Farmers couldn't help but obeyed national policy having to live with it because they were forced to evacuate the area and couldn't make any prediction for tomorrow. However, some cattle ranchers who can't accept the situation and have fed cows without taking care of their own exposure appeared. A farmer have still lived in a banned area against living in, another frequents from temporary housing 50 miles away from there in Nihonmatsu once two days. A combined team of universities that monitors health damages of exposed cows started to work, also. The theme of study is the world's first low dose exposure of large animal. However, this is a country that immediately wants to wipe out scars of the accident although it was a terrible disaster depends on a national policy. They don't cooperatively work even for a research that appears to be valuable for mankind. Then, unknown white spots emerged from exposed cows the following year of occurring the accident. A farmer that supposed it is a mutation arisen from radiation went to Kasumigaseki, Tokyo bringing it out at the risk of getting arrested. Farmers that don't accept disposal by killing cows came to be bothersome against the government. As time goes by, dropout farmers came to appear, too. It is a heart breaking story about ways of farmers who have fed cows without economic values even though their land and work were got away.

About this film

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Nuclear Cattle

Director’s Statement

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Tamotsu Matsubara

Nuclear Cattle

To be rich is just one of means for being happy!

We want to tell you chagrins of cattle ranchers in Fukushima.

It is a land that strongly remains good old Japanese culture around Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. A festival of Samurai "Soma Noma-oi" that has been run for 1,000 years is one of the proofs. Cattle ranchers have a feeling of thankfulness for cows that give us their lives for our life. They think that we can't take off cow's lives, just because cows came not to be able to sell due to contamination by radiation unlike epidemic. Farmers who combat against state hanging a flag of no-nuke, try to guard contaminated their land for their children...Farmers who wish to make exposed cows serve people's purpose...Even government that tries to guard consumers, and farmers that accepted disposal by killing cows have each good cause. Who...and what is correct? I had frequented Fukushima to confirm the answer. In the result, neither a thing has strong political tone loudly claiming no-nuke nor a thing vocals about animal protection, this movie grew a documentary telling their heart crying. The meaning of existence (raison d'etre) for this movie is to ask a question to modern society that intends to measure whole of human life with affluence called by economic growth. Nuclear power plants were attracted to Hama-dori(seaside of Fukushima) that hadn't had any big industries, it generated employments, lives of inhabitants were fertilized with huge subventions of nuclear energy etc. How was it conclusively?... I want you to come to know idiocy that people on whole of the world believe affluence to be happy and have been running placing economic growth above anything else. That is true happiness in much further another dimension.

Government considers to erase signatures of Fukushima nuclear accident at once. The cost related to reconstruction of nuclear accident already came to surpass 240 billion dollars. It is said that it will take more 50 years until decommissioning of reactor, then nobody calculates how much the real total cost is. This cost will be finally paid by tax. Government has still alleged that the cheapest cost of generating electric energy is generation by nuclear power. This announcement of government is mindlessness. On the other hand, a large part of No-entry zone will be free from April, 2017, nevertheless there still remains high leveled radiation. People that goes back to their land are expected approximately 10% of all residents, and also those are only old people over 60 years old. Nobody thinks that it results to restore it. This national policy is just a way not to pay compensation any more. Toward opening Tokyo Olympic in 2020, government says that we make it reconstruct from the condition after resetting all of them, but it is also a sophistry. Exposed cows came to be a symbol of nuclear accident now. Not killing exposed cows but I believe that it is a workable way to use them as a study of exposure feeding them. However, government doesn't permit to hand down even DNA of exposed cows. That is why we want a lot of people to watch this film as much as possible and to leave this film on history.

Why did we make this film?

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Nuclear Cattle

The hidden truth of Fukushima

Post 2011 disaster, a 20km radius surrounding the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant became off limits, otherwise known as the “dead zone.” Only selected officials and workers were allowed limited access within the dead zone. Within the “dead zone”, there were 4,000 cattle, 30,000 pigs, and 450,000 chickens. Because the animals were abandoned so quickly, 1400 cows in this area died due to starvation, many of which were still chained to their posts or trapped in their pens.

3 months after the “dead zone” was established, farmers and residents were allowed temporary limited access to visit their homes and farms. On return the farmers were surprised and relieved to find that many of their livestock were still alive, roaming the streets and mountains. The government ordered the contaminated livestock to be euthanized, for they can no longer be eaten and for fear their feces and bodies still emit unsafe amounts of radiation. Under government orders, most of the livestock were killed, however, there were still a handful of farmers who continued to fight to keep their livestock alive.

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Nuclear Cattle

The cattle farmers are struggling A breakaway group of farmers led by Mr. Yoshizawa concerned for the well being of the contaminated cattle have become very vocal. His farm, Ranch of Hope, is located 14 kilometers from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, you will come across a lush piece of land that is home to a herd of 330 cows. The scene might even be worthy of a postcard if it wasn’t for the fact that this 80-acre farm situated between Minami-Soma city and Namie town is a radiation hotspot of 200 times higher than the normal level in Tokyo.

He says, “My Hometown is like Chernobyl. Tokyo’s wealth is based on Fukushima’s sacrifices! Our government instructs us to kill cows that became exposed to radiation. However I, as a cattle farmer, absolutely cannot follow this policy.” He travels Japan shouting through mega phones in busy intersections, blaming the government for the disaster and how nuclear power should never be used. It is amidst such desperation and despair that he decided to rename his property “Ranch of Hope.” Today he is joined by a steadily growing base of supporters who back him in his fight.

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Yoshizawa lives on the farm in his sister’s home. The farm’s entrance became accessible as of April 2013, but is actually still classified as off-limits as it lays within the city limits. Nevertheless, the authorities have chosen to turn a blind eye as the land is privately owned. It was from here that he heard the reactor explode and saw the subsequent plume of white smoke. The sight of a long-dead cow at his friends farm during evacuations was more than enough to spur the former student activist into action. There was no way anyone was going to slaughter his precious cows. An alternative to the unacceptable options of starvation and merciless killing had to be found. Such was Yoshizawa’s resolve that he was literally prepared to become a lab rat for low-level radiation exposure experiments. Amazingly enough, only minute levels of radiation could be detected when he was tested.

Nuclear Cattle

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74 years old Yukio Yamamoto is the former town chairman of Namie town and owner of a family farm that dates back some 15 generations. He was once an active proponent for nuclear power. His 100 years old house just 9 miles from the devastation is now subject to 5 micro seivert per hour of radiation. Yukio is forced to make a daily roundtrip of 80 miles from the evacuation shelter in Nihonmatsu City to feed his cattle. Killing his cattle for such a reason, is relative to killing a family member, he believes. The Yamamoto family has cared for this land for more than 500 years. He wants to see that it’s once again passed down to the next generation and makes sure the house and garden are kept in impeccable condition.

Mr. and Mrs. Ikeda managed a farm just 4 miles away from the nuclear power plant in Okuma town. They travel to the farm every day from their evacuation shelter in Iwaki City. Their 27 years old son graduated from university 5 years ago with a major in dairy farming. They are driven to risk radiation exposure from a sense of guilt about not being able to leave the farm to their son. They do not accept any volunteer assistance or donations, for they firmly believe it is their sole duty to keep their own cattle alive. However, the financially stretched couple are the most likely of the remaining farmers to give up the fight. Which will be the first to go? The cows or the Ikeda’s monetary reserves?

The Situation of Cattle Farmers who Continue to Care for their Herds within the Dead Zone

Japanese people have only consumed cattle for meat for about 150 years, post Meiji Era. For the Japanese, their historic view, cows are not only the partners who work on farms, but are also considered family members. In Fukushima that custom continues to today.

Nuclear Cattle

Dead Zone is a place Samurai culture remain

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Over a thousand years ago, The Samurai Leader Tairano Masakado the founder of the Soma clan. Soma-Nomaoi Ritual in Shimōsa Province (the northwest of Chiba Prefecture) was originally for military exercise to depict battle, at present every year at the end of July on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, the 500 equestrian warriors in armor and Sword, with samurai sprint and battle banner flying high riding to wage war. The people of Soma feel great pride for this festival as it has been held every year for over a thousand year, even during wartime.

Soma-Nomaoi is a 1,000-year-old traditional festival which introduces the code of the samurai during the Warring States Period up to the present day.

In the Soma District Including the dead zone of Fukushima Prefecture, which is a famous horse-breeding region, a festive event called Soma-Nomaoi has been held since ancient times. This festival is the biggest traditional event of samurai held in Japan. Yukio Yamamoto , and the cattle farmers in the Dead Zone , have participated every year in this traditional event .

Nuclear Cattle

First example of research on contaminated cattle in the world

The cattle farmers believe strongly the remaining cows can be used for research and is enough of a reason for the cattle to continue to live. One farmer takes an hour long journey from his temporary home every other day to care for the exposed cattle. One of these farms is Watanabe Ranch, Namie town, which experiences 20 micro sievert per hour, at 7 miles from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, a location which may be off limits for the next 100 years. Because the radiation levels are so high in this area, a human exposed to 3 or more hours per day in this location will exceed the government standards for annual safe levels of radiation for an individual. Even so, members continue to visit these locations and care for the cattle. After losing their homes, family members, and jobs, caring for the cattle is all that they have left. This has become their life, without the cattle they may end up in severe depression or even commit suicide as many other have done.

The exposed cattle are no longer profitable for they cannot be sold. To continue raising a single cow, approximately 2000 dollars will be spent yearly. Yet, rather than kill the cattle, they hope they can be used for some other purpose, a purpose that can keep them alive. After long and hard negotiations, the government permitted the cattle to live, however, stating that they will not support these farmers in any way. The cattle are not merely considered a source of income for the farmers. Cattle are raised lovingly, given much love and care until the day for slaughter arrives. Until that day, the cattle are almost like family, and are a great part of who and what the cattle farmer stands for.

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Nuclear Cattle

Unidentified white spots appearing on the cattle 2 years since the nuclear power plant accident, in 2013, unidentified spots have appeared on some of the cattle. However white spots appearing on this species of cattle is not at all rare, a condition coming from their DNA. However Yoshizawa has never seen these white spots before, which are unusually small. He took advantage of this, claiming the white spots are caused by the radiation, to use as a weapon against the government. On the other hand, Professor Okada of Iwate University is uncertain that the cause of these spots are in fact radiation. Professor Okada expressed concern to Yoshizawa stating that the spots are caused by the radiation from the nuclear accident, even though more research is required to prove this. Yoshizawa is acting out of blind rage, using everything he can as a weapon to further his fight with the government. These differences led to Professor Okada and his research team splitting from Yoshizawa. Finally he took a cow with white spots from the dead zone to Tokyo , this is prohibited.

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The effects of radiation on the cattle so far

Professors Okada and researches who specialize in animal research gathered to start their research on the contaminated cattle. Recently, the researches announced that 3-6 months of clean/uncontaminated water, feed, and air rid the meat of 99% of the radiation, clearing the standards for safe meat. On the other hand, research has also shown that the radiation causes permanent damage to the host as well, greatly increasing the chance of thyroid cancer among these cattle. The same effects on the thyroid of children are being observed in Fukushima as well, however the government is desperately trying to hide this fact. The effects of continuous amounts of low radiation on the body is an unexplored topic. The Fukushima radiation spill is very different from Chernobyl for a number of reasons. 1. The residents of Fukushima were evacuated immediately after the disaster. 2. The citizens of Chernobyl continued to consume contaminated milk and produce for a long period of time. The data on the effects of radiation on the citizens of Chernobyl are far worse comparable to Fukushima, says Professor Okada. The effects of low doses of radiation on small organisms like bugs can be seen easily, however the effects on large mammals are not so easy to spot. Low doses of radiation, although continuous, may not pose as much threat to the human body as previously thought. Research on this has never been done before, and Fukushima has proven to be the perfect chance to continue research on this topic. Without support from the government, the budget is not flexible and they are struggling to gather money to feed the cattle and continue their research. 6 years since the disaster, many of these farmers started dropping out, prioritizing their livelihood over their cattle. However, a select number of farmers still continue to fight for their cattle, never losing their resolve to keep their cattle alive.

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Nuclear Cattle

Explaining the 20 km radius When the explosion occurred, debris was carried over a wide part of Japan by the wind. The radius surrounding Fukushima power plant should have been drawn with accordance to the wind direction and levels of radiation. Instead, the government simply created a perfect radius around the nuclear power plant, causing all those within the radius to lose their jobs and homes. Even though clean water and feed will lower contamination levels of the animals back to safe levels, no longer are the contaminated cattle within the 20km radius are being differentiated from the non- contaminated cattle outside the 20km radius. This has caused much discontent among cattle farmers who still have work for this reason. In regard to the exposed cows, feelings of animal rights activists, social merits of studies of exposure from radiation, and resistance to the policy of central government are all conflicting and complicating things. As long as the exposed cows are alive, the memories of this tragic nuclear incident will stay with us. Currently, there are only 6 cattle farmers remaining, with a total of 600 cattle in the “dead zone.” The documentary will be focusing on these farmers who love their cattle and refuse to give in. Now the Japanese Government issues enforced return to the Dead Zone for evacuated residents. Only 10 percent of residents have accepted. Most residents find it an unbelievable order and refuse to return. The Government on one hand says the cattle cannot be sold, as its unsafe, but on the other tell the people to return.

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Production Note

We started to gather information in Fukushima from June, 2011. At the same time, we proposed this project to NHK(Japanese broadcasting station) or oversea broadcasting station, but we couldn't get funds for this. I and a camera operator had frequented between Osaka and Fukushima as a round trip of 1,200 miles, we had tracked No-entry zone risking to be exposed after getting permissions of entering into No-entry zone. We totally visited to Fukushima 38 times, and the total number of days in covering was 82 days. Director edited huge recording tape over 600 hours with my own hands in 6 months. Getting much help with volunteers such translators or narrators, this film reached completion in July, 2016.

【Company Profile / Power-I, Inc.】

Producer and director Tamotsu Matsubara with 30 years Documentary and media experience is president of the company. He has been reporting on the situation in post-tsunami Fukushima since May 2011. He was particularly moved by the thousand-year-old Samurai festival “Soma Nomaoi”. The invincible samurai spirit of the survivors and their struggle to pass on the legacy of their forefathers was captured in the documentary “Samurai of Fukushima,” a joint production with the History Channel that was aired throughout Asia on New Year’s Eve 2013. He started filming Nuclear Cattle in 2011. This Documentary is a culmination of 5 years hard work. The aim was to film the farmers day-to-day trials and tribulations and follow them as they make the do-or-die decisions that will change their lives for good or bad forever.

【Profile of Director / Tamotsu Matsubara】

Power-I, Inc. was established in 1993, and production offices are based in Osaka. Power-I was the first Japanese production company to realize an international co-production with Bhutan Broadcasting Service. Therefore we have a very strong bond and friendship with BBS. We continue to independently report on traditional cultures that have been vanishing due to modern advances and disasters. The radiation-exposed cattle in Fukushima, and the documentary on the sword smith and his last disciple are just some of the films we have done. We have been involved in international co- production, using Japanese government grants in 2012 and 2013.

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Nuclear Cattle