In May, the IAEA sent an international fact-finding mission to Japan to make a preliminary assessment of the safety issues linked with the accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations, following the earthquake and tsunami in March. The purpose of this 10–day mission was to identify lessons from the Japanese nuclear accident that could improve global nuclear safety. The team was led by Michael Weightman, Chief Inspector of nuclear installations of the United Kingdom. He discusses the purpose of the mission, its findings and his visit to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.