A British academic is to write the first comprehensive account in English of Japan's worst aviation accident, hoping to put a fresh perspective on a tragedy that has interested people for the last 22 years.
Christopher Hood is looking into all aspects of the crash of Japan Airlines flight 123, in which 520 passengers and crew members died, and will explore how the disaster reflects wider aspects of Japanese society.
The crash of JAL 123 remains the deadliest single aircraft disaster in history. The Boeing 747 crashed into a mountain in Gunma Prefecture on Aug. 12, 1985.
Part of the aircraft's fuselage tore off during the flight, causing the tail to break off and a loss of hydraulic power. The pilots were unable to regain control of the aircraft as it oscillated up and down. After 32 minutes, the aircraft, which was traveling from Tokyo to Osaka, crashed into the mountain.