Masao Yoshida: Fukushima Nuclear Plant Manager Dies at 58

Masao Yoshida was a Japanese nuclear engineer. Born on February 17, 1955, in Osaka, he joined Tokyo Electric Power Company in 1979.

He was the manager of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant when the 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused meltdowns. He is credited with continuing to pump seawater into the reactors against orders from TEPCO headquarters, and led the crew who stayed.

He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in late 2011 and left his post. Yoshida died in Tokyo on July 9, 2013, at age 58.

Achievements: Led the emergency response at Fukushima Daiichi.

Birth: February 17, 1955 - Osaka, Japan.

Profession: Nuclear engineer.

Interesting Facts: He was said to have defied an order to stop seawater cooling.