he decided to go to fukushima dai-ichi himself. he was later criticized for interfering with the emergency work at the plant, but he says he had to find out what was really going on. >> narrator: at fukushima dai-ichi, the prime minister met directly with the tepco engineers. he insisted they vent the reactors. >> (translated): kan was very angry. the government had given an order. what was tepco doing? but we were trying our best. the valves were hard to open. we were genuinely trying. we just hadn't managed it. >> narrator: the plant manager, masao yoshida, was known for being frank. he knew the radiation near the vents was at potentially fatal levels, but he told the prime minister he'd send in a suicide squad if necessary. >> narrator: the prime minister knew his orders might condemn the men who went into the reactor to death, but he felt japan's future was at stake. >> narrator: but then tepco got some news which meant the venting was delayed yet again. the evacuation of the surrounding villages was not yet complete. if the rea