Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano (at that time) Says “I didn’t refer to the meltdowns because it’s self-evident”

Masatoshi Takeshita

* Posted by Mr.Takeshita on his blog – June 3, 2012 *

Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano (at that time) Says “I didn’t refer to the meltdowns because it’s self-evident”

English translation of an excerpt from a Japanese article: [ITAI-NYU-SU(Sore News)] June 3, 2012

On May 27, 2012, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Edano was called into the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant No. 1 Accident Investigation Commission of the Diet, which has been proceeding with investigation of the accident, as an unsworn witness and responded to witness interview.  On this day, Edano, who had played a role as spokesman of the Kan Administration, was asked about the way he had offered information about the accident.

Meltdowns finally admitted three months after the accident, in addition for overseas organization

It is in July last year, three months after the accident that the government admitted the meltdowns, about which the government reported to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency).  Asked about a significant delay in public announcement of the meltdowns, he turned defiant, saying “As for a possible damage of reactor cores (RCA), I said at the press conference in the morning on March 13 ‘based on a great likelihood of such damage, we are taking countermeasures against it.”

When a commission member asked him a sharp question “Didn’t you think that many people seemed not to take the accident so seriously?” he answered as if it were somebody else’s problem, “Maybe I might have to regret that I got a delusion.”  Furthermore, he continued giving an unspeakable remark, “As core meltdowns had occurred and possible leakage was too self-evident, I missed a chance to refer to it anew.”

“I did not tell that obvious melt-down radiation leakage” (then) Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano – JCAST TV (Machine Translated)

With information kept away from us by the prime minister’s office, an operation of nuclear power plant to be resumed

A woman who sat in on the Commission said with increased mistrust, “I doubt why he used such irresponsible language though being in a responsible position.”  Satoshi Aoki, a former Kyodo correspondent, also got angry over his irresponsibility.

“Watching at his attitude in the Commission made me very angry.  Though not seen in the video streaming of the Commission, Mr. Edano vented his anger on the fact that what had not been reported to the prime minister’s office has been disclosed in the press conferences by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA).  In spite of such situation, TEPCO has mentioned they will resume operating another nuclear power plant without ensuring its safety.  The fundamental problem remains to be solved whether it is safe to leave the resumed operation to such company.”

On 28th, Prime Minister Kan at that time will be called into the Commission as an unsworn witness for interview.  What an ‘unthinkable remark’ will he give?

“I did not tell that obvious melt-down radiation leakage” (then) Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano – JCAST TV (Machine Translated)