Japan's Killer Quake
An eyewitness account and investigation of the epic earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis Aired March 30, 2011 on PBS
- Posted 03.22.11
- NOVA
Program Description
In its worst crisis since World War II, Japan faces disaster on an epic scale: a death toll likely in the tens of thousands, massive destruction of homes and businesses, shortages of water and power, and the specter of nuclear meltdown. With exclusive footage, NOVA captures the unfolding human drama and offers a clear-headed investigation of what triggered the earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent nuclear crisis. Can science and technology ever prevent devastation in the face of overwhelmingly powerful forces of nature?
Broadcast Credits
Japan's Killer Quake
- Edit Producers
- Rae Gilder
Tom Pearson - Location Directors
- Stephanie Kern
Brian Leckey
Simon Ludgate
Callum Macrae - Written and Produced By
- Richard Burke-Ward
Robert Strange - Edited By
- Sarah Hewer
Andy Flynn
Rob Sylvester - Camera
- Joe Baram
Carl Davis
Boyd Estus
Paul Lang
Brian Leckey
Allan Palmer
Robin Probyn
Anna Rieke - Sound Recordists
- Frank Coakley
Tomo Kitani
David Lerner
Paul Miller
David Pickner
Dan Tokumaru - Location Producer
- Luisella Palladino
- Narrated By
- Corey Johnson
- Music
- Audio Networks
- Graphics
- Weave
- Line Producer
- Zoe Elliott
- Online Editor
- Steve Gilbert
- Audio Mix
- Joe Cochrane
- Researchers
- Lindsey Truman
Helen Wollner
Katie Brimblecombe - Archival Material
- AP Archive
Asia News Network
Ayumu Dokizono
BBC Motion Gallery/Thought Equity Motion
BNVN
Brent Kooi
CNN Image Source
Discovery Communications Inc
Geoeye Satellite Image
Framepool
Los Ojos De Ella
NASA World Wind
Netagu
Japan Broadcasting Corporation
NOAA
Nippon Television Network Corporation
Photolibrary/Oxford Scientific
Thought Equity - Special Thanks
- Brian Barnes – Save Japan Dolphins Campaign
Nick Bundle
Nikki Matsumato
Luisella Palladino - For Pioneer Productions
- Executive Producer
- Stuart Carter
- Head of Development
- Jeremy Dear
- Head of Production
- Kirstie Mclure
- Head of Finance
- Peter Dunkerley
- NOVA Series Graphics
- yU + Co.
- NOVA Theme Music
- Walter Werzowa
John Luker
Musikvergnuegen, Inc. - Additional NOVA Theme Music
- Ray Loring
Rob Morsberger - Post Production Online Editor
- Spencer Gentry
- Closed Captioning
- The Caption Center
- Publicity
- Eileen Campion
Victoria Louie
Karen Laverty - Marketing
- Steve Sears
- Researcher
- Kate Becker
- NOVA Administrator
- Kristen Sommerhalter
- Production Coordinator
- Linda Callahan
- Paralegal
- Sarah Erlandson
- Talent Relations
- Scott Kardel, Esq.
Janice Flood - Legal Counsel
- Susan Rosen
- Associate Producer Post Production
- Patrick Carey
- Post Production Supervisor
- Regina O'Toole
- Post Production Editor
- Rebecca Nieto
- Post Production Manager
- Nathan Gunner
- Compliance Manager
- Linzy Emery
- Development Producers
- Pamela Rosenstein
David Condon - Supervising Producer
- Stephen Sweigart
- Business and Production Manager
- Jonathan Loewald
- Senior Producer and Project Director, Margret & Hans Rey / Curious George Producer
- Lisa Mirowitz
- Coordinating Producer
- Laurie Cahalane
- Senior Science Editor
- Evan Hadingham
- Senior Series Producer
- Melanie Wallace
- Executive Producer
- Howard Swartz
- Managing Director
- Alan Ritsko
- Senior Executive Producer
- Paula S. Apsell
Produced by Pioneer Productions For NOVA In Association With Channel 4
© 2011 Pioneer Film and Television Productions Limited and WGBH Educational Foundation
All Rights Reserved
Participants
- Roger Bilham
- Seismologist, Univ. of Colorado
- Simon Boxall
- National Oceanography Center, Southampton
- Gerard Fryer
- Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
- Chris Goldfinger
- Marine Geologist, Oregon State University
- Tom Jordan
- Director, SCEC
- Callum Macrae
- Journalist and Filmmaker
- Charles Mccreery
- Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
- Costas Synolakis
- Coastal Engineer, USC
- Jim Walsh
- Nuclear Security Expert, MIT
Editors' Picks
-
Inside a Nuclear Control Room
Explore a panoramic image of the control room at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station's training simulator.
-
Nuclear After Japan
Amory Lovins and other experts reflect on what Japan's crisis may mean for the future of nuclear energy.
-
Anatomy of a Tsunami
See how the tsunami of 2004 developed, from its birth at the seafloor to its impact on coasts around the Indian Ocean.
-
Seismologist Probes Japan Quake
Roger Bilham uses striking graphs to size up the devastating 9.0 earthquake.
