Midday September 27, 2014 — approximately 250 people at the summit of Mt. Ontake were caught completely off-guard by a sudden and violent eruption that sent volcanic rocks and ash raining down on them. Out of the group, 63 people died or went missing that day in what remains the greatest volcanic disaster in post-war Japanese history. Was it an act of God, or could the tragic loss of life have been reduced or even avoided completely?

Japan is a volcanic chain of islands. Seven percent of all the world's active volcanoes are located in Japan — 110 in all. Yet, at the time of the eruption, the warning level for Mt. Ontake was Level 1: “Normal.” No warnings or restrictions were issued prior to the eruption.

Living with the possibility of a volcanic eruption is a fact of life for many Japanese people. Is Japan doing enough in the way of volcanic disaster awareness and prevention to keep its people safe? This documentary examines what went wrong at Mt. Ontake and explores various issues with Japan’s volcano disaster prevention warning system.

It is not only helpful for Japan's analysis of its disaster prevention measures but is also a reference for foreign countries with volcanoes as well.

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