The Tokaimura nuclear accident occurred at the JCO uranium processing plant, where workers were attempting to create nuclear fuel. On September 30, technicians Yoshihiro Yamashita and Masato Shinohara were involved in the mixing of uranium hexafluoride with nitric acid. Due to a series of mismanagement and violations of safety protocols, the solution reached a critical mass, resulting in an uncontrollable nuclear reaction, or criticality event. While safety regulations mandated protective measures, the workers employed unsafe practices leading to the incident. The immediate area was subjected to a dangerous increase in radiation levels, prompting the evacuation of nearby residents and a major response from emergency services.Following the accident, significant efforts were made to control the radiation leak and protect public health. However, both Yamashita and Shinohara suffered severe radiation exposure, leading to their eventual deaths from complications four and two months, respectively, after the incident. The accident not only underscored serious lapses in safety and regulatory enforcement within Japan's nuclear industry but also generated public outrage concerning the government’s handling of nuclear energy. This tragedy catalyzed reviews of safety protocols across the nuclear sector in Japan and initiated widespread discussions on the future of nuclear energy in the country.The aftermath of the Tokaimura accident led to the implementation of stricter safety regulations and oversight of nuclear facilities in Japan, enhancing training procedures for workers and improving emergency response protocols. It also intensified scrutiny of the nuclear energy program in Japan, especially following later events such as the Fukushima disaster in 2011. The societal implications of the Tokaimura accident, alongside policy changes, shaped the narrative surrounding nuclear energy and safety in Japan for years to come.