Learning about the Operation Tomodachi lawsuit hit me hard. The very soldiers who came to our aid have suffered radiation exposure and now endure chronic health issues. I’m ashamed I didn’t know this sooner.
Back then, in the wake of the disaster, we lived in constant fear. Yet, their courage moved us beyond words. Eighty years ago, Japan and the US were locked in brutal battles across the Pacific. But we overcame that bloodshed and became friends—true friends. It felt like we had set an example for a world still trapped in cycles of war and hatred.
And now, those very soldiers are suffering. Knowing this, how can we stand by and do nothing? Fukushima cannot remain a perpetual victim, forever on the receiving end of aid. It’s my turn. This time, we give back.
The US lacks a universal healthcare system like Japan’s. Medical costs are crippling—are these soldiers getting the care they need? If radiation exposure forced them out of service, what became of their lives? Their families?
First, I need to gather information and assess what can be done. Perhaps a crowdfunding campaign, reaching out to those who were helped in 2011, channelling support through aid organisations to cover medical expenses and daily needs. There must be something we can do.
They stood by us when we needed them most. Now, it’s our turn to stand by them.
Another mission has found its way into my life.
Operation Tomodachi
Operation Tomodachi was a large-scale humanitarian aid and disaster relief operation conducted by the United States military in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake, which struck on March 11, 2011.
Overview of the Operation
Duration: March 12, 2011 – May 4, 2011
Participating Units:
U.S. Forces in Japan (U.S. Navy 7th Fleet, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army)
Fleet centred around the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan
Approximately 24,000 U.S. military personnel
About 24 ships and 140 aircraft
Primary Activities:
Transportation of supplies (food, water, medical supplies, fuel, etc.) to the affected areas
Search and rescue operations for missing persons
Debris removal and recovery support
Monitoring and assisting with the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant crisis
Main Support Activities
1.Support from USS Ronald Reagan
Immediately following the earthquake, the 7th Fleet responded swiftly at the request of the Japanese government.
The USS Ronald Reagan deployed to the waters off the coast of Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures, where it conducted helicopter missions to transport relief supplies.
U.S. military aircraft carried out air bridges, delivering water, food, blankets, and fuel to the affected regions.
2.Marine Corps Landing and Support Operations
The U.S. Marine Corps (including the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa) landed on the coastlines of Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures to deliver supplies and engage in recovery work.
3.U.S. Air Force and Army Transport Operations
C-130 transport planes and helicopters were used to airlift supplies to isolated regions.
Army units provided infrastructure and road recovery support.
4.Support for the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Crisis
Unmanned aerial systems were employed to monitor radiation levels.
U.S. personnel assisted with the injection of cooling water.
Radiation data was collected in the vicinity of Fukushima.
Challenges and Issues
Exposure of U.S. Military Personnel
Some members of the crew aboard USS Ronald Reagan, who operated off the coast of Fukushima, were exposed to radiation.
Subsequently, several of these personnel filed lawsuits seeking compensation from Tokyo Electric Power Company, claiming health issues related to the exposure (the “Tomodachi Operation lawsuit”).
References(Japanese Sources)
Nobuyuki Miura, The East Japan Earthquake and the U.S.-Japan Cooperation in Disaster Relief: Focusing on Operation Tomodachi in The Report of the Disaster Prevention and Emergency Relief Institute, Kokushikan University, Vol. 3, 2011.
Koichi Isobe, The Frontlines of Operation Tomodachi: Lessons Learned from U.S.-Japan Alliance Cooperation in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Crisis, Sayurusha, 2019.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, U.S. Military Support for the Great East Japan Earthquake (Operation Tomodachi), August 29, 2011.
References(U.S. Sources)
U.S. Air Force Historical Support Division, 2011 Operation Tomodachi
U.S. Department of Defense, Operation Tomodachi – Japan Tsunami Relief Operations
U.S. Department of Defense, LOOKBACK: Operation Tomodachi (media.defense.gov)
The Tomodachi Operation Lawsuit
The “Tomodachi Operation Lawsuit” concerns the legal action taken by U.S. military personnel, who, after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, were exposed to radiation while assisting with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. These servicemen filed a lawsuit against Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), seeking compensation for health damage.
Background
In the aftermath of the disaster, the United States military swiftly initiated “Operation Tomodachi”, which included the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier “USS Ronald Reagan” operating off the coast of Fukushima. However, complications arose when the ship took in contaminated water, which was processed by its water filtration systems, resulting in radiation exposure to some of the crew.
The Lawsuit’s Progression
In December 2012, eight servicemen filed a lawsuit in a federal court in California. The number of plaintiffs subsequently grew to around 400 by 2020.
Their claim was straightforward: TEPCO underestimated the effects of the radiation, failing to provide adequate information. They further argued that exposure to the radiation had caused severe health issues, including cancer, thyroid disorders, and infertility, and sought compensation exceeding $1 billion (approximately 150 billion yen).
Legal Developments
TEPCO has denied the existence of a causal link between the radiation exposure and the health damage, asserting that no such direct connection has been proven. The Japanese government has also maintained that the radiation levels were not harmful.
In 2020, the California court decided to continue the trial, though no final verdict has yet been reached.
Impacts and Debate
Relations between the U.S. Military and the Japanese Government
Initially, both the Japanese government and the U.S. military downplayed the risks of radiation exposure. However, this lawsuit has brought the health risks into sharper focus.
Health Damages to U.S. Military Personnel
Many of the servicemen involved in the lawsuit suffer from severe health conditions, with support organisations actively campaigning for compensation.
Responsibility of Tokyo Electric Power Company
The Fukushima Daiichi disaster remains the subject of numerous lawsuits both domestically and internationally, with this case becoming a key point of scrutiny in determining the responsibility of TEPCO.
References(Japanese Sources)
“Drifting Tomodachi: The Lawsuit of U.S. Radiation Victims” (By Masato Tainaka, Iwanami Shoten)
“Examining the Issues of Nuclear Damage Compensation Law” (By Ken Mizuno, Japan Energy Law Research Institute)
“Ten Years After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident” (OECD Nuclear Energy Agency)
References (U.S. Sources)
Operation Tomodachi Registry (U.S. Department of Defense)
“Operation Tomodachi” (U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps)
“Guidance for Clinicians on Service Members Who Served in Operation Tomodachi” (U.S. Navy Environmental Health Center)