Experts and journalists have written a number of reports, some even running several hundred pages, about the cause of the triple meltdown crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant and the chain of events that followed.

But little has come to light about the human drama of how the plant workers who came to be dubbed the "Fukushima 50," fought against incredible odds to avert catastrophic reactor explosions that would have led to the contamination of all eastern Japan.

But now a recently published book sheds light on dozens of those workers, including their real names and numerous quotes, and an account by the plant's heroic operations chief, Masao Yoshida, who has largely avoided giving interviews despite intense public interest in his role in the saga.