Dealing with Disaster in Japan

Christopher P. Hood is a Reader in Japanese Studies at Cardiff University, UK. His publications include Shinkansen: From Bullet Train to Symbol of Modern Japan, (2006), Japanese Education Reform: Nakasone’s Legacy (2001) and (as editor) the four volume Politics of Modern Japan (all published by Routledge).

• Part I - Context 1. Introduction 2. Putting JL123 into Context Part II – The Death of JL123 3. JL123 – From Take-off to Disaster 4. Response and Responsibility Part III – The Human Cost 5. Counting the Cost 6. Remembrance and The Osutaka Pilgrimage Part IV – Narratives about JL123 7. The Media and JL123 8. Japan’s Titanic Part V – The Legacy of JL123

"This is a haunting saga, brilliantly told, about the 1985 crash of a Japan Airlines flight in the mountains of remote Gunma that claimed 521 lives. It is a gripping tale that explores what happened and why while probing the human tragedies that have unfolded since that fateful day... While disaster buffs will find this a rewarding read, I think that anyone interested in Japan will learn a great deal about how people collectively and individually cope with death, from how it is reported, how it is mourned and commemorated, to efforts at healing the traumatic aftershocks that disrupt lives and families, and the cold calculus of compensation." - Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies, Temple University Japan; The Japan Times: Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011