Research Sub-Groups
Cultural Self-Sacrifice and Heroism- Kyra Javery and Mackenzie Brackett
In some societies self-sacrifice can be consider suicide and in others it is considered heroic. In the U.S self-sacrifice resulting in death is considered an immoral act. In our culture as Americans we consider it a negative thing that one would take his or her own life for selfish reasons. In this case self-sacrifice would end up hurting more people than helping. Many other cultures believe that self-sacrifice shows selflessness and is considered a moral act. For example, in China some believe that what is good for family and personal affiliation is more ideal than what is good for oneself. A common form of self-sacrifice is known as Martyrdom. Those who believe in this sacrifice are called Martyrs. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines them as “a person who sacrifices something of great value, and especially life itself for the sake of principal.” Like many other cultures the Martyrs sacrifice their life for religion. In some cultures dying for ones beliefs can be seen as more important than one’s own life. I find it very interesting and also heartening that one would sacrifice themselves on behalf of something or some else.
The Bushido code is philosophical system of the ancient samurais of Japan. The unwritten code enforces the idea of acting in the moment to achieve a present goal without worrying about consequences or results other than completion of the goal. The Samurai warriors also lived by the seven virtues of Bushido, which tell how the Samurai should conduct themselves both in battle and in their political dealings and daily lives. These seven virtues include morality, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty. This code of ethics became not only a part of Samurai culture, but also spread to the entire Japanese culture. Some parts of the Bushido code were even made into law during the late 19th century. Throughout history, the bushido lifestyle has been apparent in Japanese lifestyle. One of the greatest examples of the Bushido code is the use of kamikaze pilots during WWII. These pilots left their bases knowing that death was a certainty, but they focused on the goal of winning the war for their country. This is very similar to the fearless battle style of the Samurai warriors who always pushed forward to kill their opponents even if it meant death or injury.
The Fukushima 50 sacrificed their own personal safety and time with their families. In result of staying behind to help bring the reactors under control, the workers were placed in risk of fatal exposure to radiation. These workers committed themselves to die if it meant saving the nation. The Bushido code may not be directly attributed to the sacrifice of the Fukushima 50. However, the principles of the code that have implanted themselves in the Japanese culture certainly had an impact on the decision making of the staff that day. The “country before self” and “death before dishonor” mentalities of the workers are at the heart of the Bushido code and have been the most widespread principles of the code in modern Japan.
Economics of the Disaster- Mike Oyewumi
The 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami had a negative impact on the economy of Japan but it didn’t seem to have the same kind of greater impact it did to world markets. Japan has the third largest economy in the world. Japan saw damage to their physical capital of at least $250 billion to as much $309 billion. The economy of Japan after disaster wouldn’t be the same no more. The earthquake and the tsunami created a nuclear crisis and shortage of electricity. The disaster had even messed up U.S and Japan exports and imports, the United States food and drug administration had banned such imports like spinach from the four major Japanese prefectures.
The disaster gave Japan a huge blow especially to its economy, it was estimated that at least 28,000 were dead or missing and 500,000 were displaced. It was estimated that due to the disaster it would cost the World Bank roughly $100-$235 billion, and take five years to rebuild what the disaster did to the country.
Automakers like Toyota and Nissan had to shut down production, plants and factories were shut down. Before the disaster occurred, Japan was recently recovering from 20 years of deflationary period and recession. The economy was seemed to be on track by 2010 when GDP increased by 3%. When the disaster happened it only added to Japan's economic challenges of government debt, rising commodity prices and a shrinking labor pool.
With the information I gathered from research. I feel like we incorporate in our performance the lost of millions and billions of dollar due to the disaster and how negative the impact it was to the Japanese economy. Also we can incorporate how the earthquake shut down airports, factories and people were displaced and even dead. In addition we can suggest in our performance how significant the negative impact of the disaster had on the World Bank, the relationship between the United States and Japan economy (imports & exports) after the disaster and how they are recovering in today’s times.
Martyrs- Nick Rohrer
Those who sacrifice themselves for a larger purpose have been around for as long as the human race has endured. Sometimes called Martyrs, they have shaped the way the world functions so far today. For instance with Christianity, Jesus was the initial Martyr. He sacrificed himself to repent for all of man’s sins. He made a self-sacrifice for the betterment of a larger group, an altruistic action. This is a direct parallel to the Fukashima 50, who stayed behind in the irradiated plant to help repair the damage to prevent the radiation from spreading and becoming worse.
According to research conducted the Romans began persecuting the Christians, deeming them an enemy to the empire. Certain Christians would want to be put to death claiming they could “get to God through Jesus”, meaning through the acts of self-sacrifice. This allegedly inspired other Christians and restored their faith as well as impressed pagans through the display of faith and converted members over to Christianity.
One way to lend some of this in to the performance would be to make a story of self-sacrifice in order to help other people benefit. Not necessarily about someone dying so others can survive, but just as a broad concept of sacrificing something dear to you in order to help others. Alternatively, famous acts of martyrdom could be re-enacted (i.e. 9/11 Flight #..., 9/11 Firefighters, Kamikaze planes, 300 Spartans, Gandalf against the Balrog, etc.)
Myths and Mythology- Corrinne Kuik and Hannah Mansell
Self-sacrifice has always been a prominent theme in World Mythology, but also in real life. In both senses, it tends to revolve around offering or giving yourself or an item up for the greater good of mankind, someone you love, a cause you are dedicated to, etc. This can be through death, through serving others, through ceremony, and through any number of ways. In the case of the Fukushima nuclear plant that was affected by the March 11 2011 Earthquake in japan, 50 workers at the nuclear plant stayed behind to keep the reactors in check in the hopes that they could prevent a meltdown that would affect the entire country. In turn however, they had to accept that sooner or later, they would most likely die from the effects of radiation, and thus sacrificed themselves to save their fellow citizens. In the following paragraphs, we show different types of self-sacrifice that were both compellingly brave and heart wrenchingly sad.
In mythology, many of the stories revolve around self-sacrifices or sacrifice in general made for gods either to keep them happy, thanking them for their power and service, or to placate them. While many of them centered on the gods, instances of self-sacrifice also happened for the greater good of the people. In the time of the ancient romans, “life being returned to the gods so that those of the divine world would in return continue giving life to those of the mortal world” (Advameg, Inc.). This shows that the people were not sacrificing themselves because they had angered the gods and had to repay them, rather they wanted to thank them for giving them life, so they repay them with one of their own. Also, in Aztec mythology, it was “strongly believed… of Aztecs in Mexico that human sacrifice "nourishe(s) the gods and, in particular, the sun, and that certain victims embodied gods." (Graulich). Both of these examples that we found show sacrifice in a positive light, to thank the gods and to keep the civilization safe and able to thrive.
Looking further however, we came across moments in mythology where man had to sacrifice himself, or herself, to placate a figure of evil and discord. In Ancient Japanese mythology, there was “a large sea serpent that demanded a maiden to be sacrificed to it every year on June 13. Yofune-Nushi ruled the seas near Oki Island, storming and harassing the fishing fleet. If it did not receive its sacrifice, it would rage, and storms would destroy the fishing fleet” (Roberts). Here we see an instance of someone either unwillingly or willingly giving themselves over to this ancient serpent to keep it placated and in the hopes that no storms would arise and harm their people and fishing fleet. In another show of self-sacrifice in Japanese Mythology, in one myth a woman was sacrificed and the protagonist is shocked and dismayed by the action, and demands a priest to explain this horrendous act. The priest sadly explains that, “the sacrifice was necessary. The god Yofune-Nushi demanded a young maiden each year, or he would send storms to drown the local fisherman. Tokoyo told the priest she would go in the girl’s place” (Roberts). Again we see a sacrifice to appease a relentless god figure, however this time it was done to save the life of another who was to be sacrificed.
Finally, an example of self-sacrifice that closest resembles that of the Fukushima fifty, is that of a story we know well. The story of Hercules is based on the actual myth of Herakles, son of Zeus who sacrificed himself “after completion of the twelve Labors, spending time as a wanderer, and having experiences of the Deeds” after which “he was granted full godhood and welcomed to Mount Olympus” (Stewart). This in turn led to the famous Disney version in which Hercules doesn't die, but he “puts his love, Meg's life before his own, even after he is stripped of his godly powers by the hellish Hades. He is on the brinks of death when he finally saves Meg's life” which in turn also allowed him entrance to Mount Olympus, just like Herakles (Stewart). Just like the Fukushima fifty, Hercules does not die in his show of self-sacrifice. He offers his own life to protect someone else knowing there is a large chance he will perish, but lives to tell the tale, just like those brave men at Fukushima.
Religion- Joe Eads
Shintoism can be dated back to 6th century CE. It is a traditional Japanese religion. It is a polytheistic religion, and there are no "all-powerful" deities. Instead, each god or goddess symbolizes a specific attribute of either humanity or the natural world. Due to this, those who adhere to Shintoism have a high regard for nature.
Although the gods are considered equal, the most famous of these deities is the sun goddess, Amaterasu. She is best known for the story of how her brother, Susanowa, the god of storms, wreaked havoc upon the world. Once Amaterasu revealed herself to the world, the storms stopped. Afterwards, Amaterasu proceeded to cultivate the rice fields.
Another of the three dominant religions in modern day Japan is Christianity. Allusions to the bible are referenced throughout the world, whether people mean to or not. The most predominant allusion is the "Christ-figure", which is a blameless person or persons becoming a martyr for another person, belief, or entity.
Science Behind the Disaster in Japan- Anna Gaede and Krissi Tinsley
The earthquake that started the tsunami started at 2:46 p.m. local time. The shaking lasted 6 minutes, at a depth of 20 miles below the surface, reaching a magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter scale. This was one of the largest ever recorded. It was felt around the world, affecting the fjords of Norway and the ice sheets in Antarctica. The tsunami waves hit the coastline of Japan less than an hour after the earthquake, traveling inland as far as 6 miles and covering an area of about 217 square miles in Japan. It is not the actual first wave itself that causes all of the destruction, but the series of waves that continuously follow it.
The waves caused a cooling system failure at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. This resulted in a level 7 nuclear meltdown, a maximum level meltdown along with the only other level 7 in history, Chernobyl. 300 tons of radioactive water continuously leaks every day from the plant, affecting the marine life around it. It was later found that the workers of the power plant had not been trained to handle multiple failures.
Although people received texts and other alerts of the earthquakes, only 58 percent of Japanese citizens actually headed for higher ground. They all assumed the tsunami would be another small one that they previously experienced. The government failed to direct evacuations or warn local towns, leaving many victims exposed to the harmful radiation.
With all of this information, this was the largest earthquakes ever recorded and the most devastating meltdown since Chernobyl. A lot of what can be in our plays is the inability of the government to help, the unawareness of the citizens, and the absolute confusion of the workers in the plant. No one had any idea what was really happening when it did, only that they had to stay and try to stop it. We will try to convey the desperation of the workers. They didn’t know what specifically was happening; only that it was terrible. And the other thing to emphasize is the unaffected attitudes of the citizens. They honestly had no idea that they were truly in danger. The plays should convey the confusion and the lack of knowledge of the impending disaster.
In some societies self-sacrifice can be consider suicide and in others it is considered heroic. In the U.S self-sacrifice resulting in death is considered an immoral act. In our culture as Americans we consider it a negative thing that one would take his or her own life for selfish reasons. In this case self-sacrifice would end up hurting more people than helping. Many other cultures believe that self-sacrifice shows selflessness and is considered a moral act. For example, in China some believe that what is good for family and personal affiliation is more ideal than what is good for oneself. A common form of self-sacrifice is known as Martyrdom. Those who believe in this sacrifice are called Martyrs. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines them as “a person who sacrifices something of great value, and especially life itself for the sake of principal.” Like many other cultures the Martyrs sacrifice their life for religion. In some cultures dying for ones beliefs can be seen as more important than one’s own life. I find it very interesting and also heartening that one would sacrifice themselves on behalf of something or some else.
The Bushido code is philosophical system of the ancient samurais of Japan. The unwritten code enforces the idea of acting in the moment to achieve a present goal without worrying about consequences or results other than completion of the goal. The Samurai warriors also lived by the seven virtues of Bushido, which tell how the Samurai should conduct themselves both in battle and in their political dealings and daily lives. These seven virtues include morality, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty. This code of ethics became not only a part of Samurai culture, but also spread to the entire Japanese culture. Some parts of the Bushido code were even made into law during the late 19th century. Throughout history, the bushido lifestyle has been apparent in Japanese lifestyle. One of the greatest examples of the Bushido code is the use of kamikaze pilots during WWII. These pilots left their bases knowing that death was a certainty, but they focused on the goal of winning the war for their country. This is very similar to the fearless battle style of the Samurai warriors who always pushed forward to kill their opponents even if it meant death or injury.
The Fukushima 50 sacrificed their own personal safety and time with their families. In result of staying behind to help bring the reactors under control, the workers were placed in risk of fatal exposure to radiation. These workers committed themselves to die if it meant saving the nation. The Bushido code may not be directly attributed to the sacrifice of the Fukushima 50. However, the principles of the code that have implanted themselves in the Japanese culture certainly had an impact on the decision making of the staff that day. The “country before self” and “death before dishonor” mentalities of the workers are at the heart of the Bushido code and have been the most widespread principles of the code in modern Japan.
Economics of the Disaster- Mike Oyewumi
The 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami had a negative impact on the economy of Japan but it didn’t seem to have the same kind of greater impact it did to world markets. Japan has the third largest economy in the world. Japan saw damage to their physical capital of at least $250 billion to as much $309 billion. The economy of Japan after disaster wouldn’t be the same no more. The earthquake and the tsunami created a nuclear crisis and shortage of electricity. The disaster had even messed up U.S and Japan exports and imports, the United States food and drug administration had banned such imports like spinach from the four major Japanese prefectures.
The disaster gave Japan a huge blow especially to its economy, it was estimated that at least 28,000 were dead or missing and 500,000 were displaced. It was estimated that due to the disaster it would cost the World Bank roughly $100-$235 billion, and take five years to rebuild what the disaster did to the country.
Automakers like Toyota and Nissan had to shut down production, plants and factories were shut down. Before the disaster occurred, Japan was recently recovering from 20 years of deflationary period and recession. The economy was seemed to be on track by 2010 when GDP increased by 3%. When the disaster happened it only added to Japan's economic challenges of government debt, rising commodity prices and a shrinking labor pool.
With the information I gathered from research. I feel like we incorporate in our performance the lost of millions and billions of dollar due to the disaster and how negative the impact it was to the Japanese economy. Also we can incorporate how the earthquake shut down airports, factories and people were displaced and even dead. In addition we can suggest in our performance how significant the negative impact of the disaster had on the World Bank, the relationship between the United States and Japan economy (imports & exports) after the disaster and how they are recovering in today’s times.
Martyrs- Nick Rohrer
Those who sacrifice themselves for a larger purpose have been around for as long as the human race has endured. Sometimes called Martyrs, they have shaped the way the world functions so far today. For instance with Christianity, Jesus was the initial Martyr. He sacrificed himself to repent for all of man’s sins. He made a self-sacrifice for the betterment of a larger group, an altruistic action. This is a direct parallel to the Fukashima 50, who stayed behind in the irradiated plant to help repair the damage to prevent the radiation from spreading and becoming worse.
According to research conducted the Romans began persecuting the Christians, deeming them an enemy to the empire. Certain Christians would want to be put to death claiming they could “get to God through Jesus”, meaning through the acts of self-sacrifice. This allegedly inspired other Christians and restored their faith as well as impressed pagans through the display of faith and converted members over to Christianity.
One way to lend some of this in to the performance would be to make a story of self-sacrifice in order to help other people benefit. Not necessarily about someone dying so others can survive, but just as a broad concept of sacrificing something dear to you in order to help others. Alternatively, famous acts of martyrdom could be re-enacted (i.e. 9/11 Flight #..., 9/11 Firefighters, Kamikaze planes, 300 Spartans, Gandalf against the Balrog, etc.)
Myths and Mythology- Corrinne Kuik and Hannah Mansell
Self-sacrifice has always been a prominent theme in World Mythology, but also in real life. In both senses, it tends to revolve around offering or giving yourself or an item up for the greater good of mankind, someone you love, a cause you are dedicated to, etc. This can be through death, through serving others, through ceremony, and through any number of ways. In the case of the Fukushima nuclear plant that was affected by the March 11 2011 Earthquake in japan, 50 workers at the nuclear plant stayed behind to keep the reactors in check in the hopes that they could prevent a meltdown that would affect the entire country. In turn however, they had to accept that sooner or later, they would most likely die from the effects of radiation, and thus sacrificed themselves to save their fellow citizens. In the following paragraphs, we show different types of self-sacrifice that were both compellingly brave and heart wrenchingly sad.
In mythology, many of the stories revolve around self-sacrifices or sacrifice in general made for gods either to keep them happy, thanking them for their power and service, or to placate them. While many of them centered on the gods, instances of self-sacrifice also happened for the greater good of the people. In the time of the ancient romans, “life being returned to the gods so that those of the divine world would in return continue giving life to those of the mortal world” (Advameg, Inc.). This shows that the people were not sacrificing themselves because they had angered the gods and had to repay them, rather they wanted to thank them for giving them life, so they repay them with one of their own. Also, in Aztec mythology, it was “strongly believed… of Aztecs in Mexico that human sacrifice "nourishe(s) the gods and, in particular, the sun, and that certain victims embodied gods." (Graulich). Both of these examples that we found show sacrifice in a positive light, to thank the gods and to keep the civilization safe and able to thrive.
Looking further however, we came across moments in mythology where man had to sacrifice himself, or herself, to placate a figure of evil and discord. In Ancient Japanese mythology, there was “a large sea serpent that demanded a maiden to be sacrificed to it every year on June 13. Yofune-Nushi ruled the seas near Oki Island, storming and harassing the fishing fleet. If it did not receive its sacrifice, it would rage, and storms would destroy the fishing fleet” (Roberts). Here we see an instance of someone either unwillingly or willingly giving themselves over to this ancient serpent to keep it placated and in the hopes that no storms would arise and harm their people and fishing fleet. In another show of self-sacrifice in Japanese Mythology, in one myth a woman was sacrificed and the protagonist is shocked and dismayed by the action, and demands a priest to explain this horrendous act. The priest sadly explains that, “the sacrifice was necessary. The god Yofune-Nushi demanded a young maiden each year, or he would send storms to drown the local fisherman. Tokoyo told the priest she would go in the girl’s place” (Roberts). Again we see a sacrifice to appease a relentless god figure, however this time it was done to save the life of another who was to be sacrificed.
Finally, an example of self-sacrifice that closest resembles that of the Fukushima fifty, is that of a story we know well. The story of Hercules is based on the actual myth of Herakles, son of Zeus who sacrificed himself “after completion of the twelve Labors, spending time as a wanderer, and having experiences of the Deeds” after which “he was granted full godhood and welcomed to Mount Olympus” (Stewart). This in turn led to the famous Disney version in which Hercules doesn't die, but he “puts his love, Meg's life before his own, even after he is stripped of his godly powers by the hellish Hades. He is on the brinks of death when he finally saves Meg's life” which in turn also allowed him entrance to Mount Olympus, just like Herakles (Stewart). Just like the Fukushima fifty, Hercules does not die in his show of self-sacrifice. He offers his own life to protect someone else knowing there is a large chance he will perish, but lives to tell the tale, just like those brave men at Fukushima.
Religion- Joe Eads
Shintoism can be dated back to 6th century CE. It is a traditional Japanese religion. It is a polytheistic religion, and there are no "all-powerful" deities. Instead, each god or goddess symbolizes a specific attribute of either humanity or the natural world. Due to this, those who adhere to Shintoism have a high regard for nature.
Although the gods are considered equal, the most famous of these deities is the sun goddess, Amaterasu. She is best known for the story of how her brother, Susanowa, the god of storms, wreaked havoc upon the world. Once Amaterasu revealed herself to the world, the storms stopped. Afterwards, Amaterasu proceeded to cultivate the rice fields.
Another of the three dominant religions in modern day Japan is Christianity. Allusions to the bible are referenced throughout the world, whether people mean to or not. The most predominant allusion is the "Christ-figure", which is a blameless person or persons becoming a martyr for another person, belief, or entity.
Science Behind the Disaster in Japan- Anna Gaede and Krissi Tinsley
The earthquake that started the tsunami started at 2:46 p.m. local time. The shaking lasted 6 minutes, at a depth of 20 miles below the surface, reaching a magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter scale. This was one of the largest ever recorded. It was felt around the world, affecting the fjords of Norway and the ice sheets in Antarctica. The tsunami waves hit the coastline of Japan less than an hour after the earthquake, traveling inland as far as 6 miles and covering an area of about 217 square miles in Japan. It is not the actual first wave itself that causes all of the destruction, but the series of waves that continuously follow it.
The waves caused a cooling system failure at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. This resulted in a level 7 nuclear meltdown, a maximum level meltdown along with the only other level 7 in history, Chernobyl. 300 tons of radioactive water continuously leaks every day from the plant, affecting the marine life around it. It was later found that the workers of the power plant had not been trained to handle multiple failures.
Although people received texts and other alerts of the earthquakes, only 58 percent of Japanese citizens actually headed for higher ground. They all assumed the tsunami would be another small one that they previously experienced. The government failed to direct evacuations or warn local towns, leaving many victims exposed to the harmful radiation.
With all of this information, this was the largest earthquakes ever recorded and the most devastating meltdown since Chernobyl. A lot of what can be in our plays is the inability of the government to help, the unawareness of the citizens, and the absolute confusion of the workers in the plant. No one had any idea what was really happening when it did, only that they had to stay and try to stop it. We will try to convey the desperation of the workers. They didn’t know what specifically was happening; only that it was terrible. And the other thing to emphasize is the unaffected attitudes of the citizens. They honestly had no idea that they were truly in danger. The plays should convey the confusion and the lack of knowledge of the impending disaster.