ABSTRACT
In March 2011, within days, the northeastern region of Japan experienced an earthquake, a tsunami, several nuclear reactor meltdowns, loss of thousands of lives, the destruction of buildings and towns, and challenges in fulfilling basic human needs such as safe drinking water. The mega-crisis has had local, national, and international resonance, manifesting in natural disasters, industry failures, humanitarian disasters, and a legitimacy crisis faced by the government and a troubled nuclear industry. This case study makes an argument for a crisis communication analytical framework that recognizes the complexity and variety of the multiple crises. Focusing on local communities, the central government, and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the analysis examines the various crisis communication exigencies and challenges that the different players faced, details their crisis communication goals and strategies, and presents a critical assessment of the intended and unintended outcomes of how the crises were handled. Theoretical implications and practical lessons to be learned are explored.
