The independent Diet panel investigating the Fukushima nuclear crisis wrapped up its mission and compiled a 592-page report in July 2012, but probably only a handful of people have read the full account and even fewer understand it.

However, six short video clips explaining the lengthy report in simple language have been a hit on the Internet, making it very easy to understand what happened at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. Starting Thursday, English versions will be available.

The video clips were made by a group of people who include university students and former members of the Diet panel, according to Satoshi Ishibashi, a representative of the group and a former director of the panel's research project management team.

The six clips, which include titles such as "Was the nuclear accident preventable?" and "What happened inside the nuclear plant?" explain the catastrophe with illustrations and simple words that even elementary school students can understand.

They were part of efforts by the group, which was created last November by 18 people, to help the public understand what happened in Fukushima in March 2011 and to spur open discussions on the disaster's lessons.

Titled the "Wakariyasui (easy to understand) Project," it carries the subtitle "The Simplest Explanation of the National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission Report."

Besides creating the video clips, the group offers workshops and lectures on the crisis.

"We spent six months compiling the report, but the problem is the report is not attractive to the public," Ishibashi said. "We poured taxpayers' money and our effort into compiling the report, and if we don't do anything more with it, it will simply have been a waste."

The English versions of the video clips can be viewed at naiic.net/en/iv/ and the Japanese versions at naiic.net/iv/ .