Category: Social-Nuclear

[Mr. Naoto Amaki] There Can Be No Denuclearization Without Departure from Subordination to U.S.

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This is really a piercing comment.  I agree with him.  Ichiro Ozawa uses denuclearization as policy platform simply because he can come to power.  Reality is so pathetic that I want to be thinking that Mr. Taro Yamamoto is the only person who seriously tries to stop operating nuclear power plants.  However, unless we grab an administration away from the LDP/New Komeito/JPD and Ishin no Kai, they will revive nuclear power policy and, additionally, they will bring about a war.

Masatoshi Takeshita
December 4, 2012
Naoto Amaki - a former Japanese diplomat

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English translation of an excerpt from a Japanese article: Blog of Amaki Naoto – December 4, 2012 –
  
There Can Be No Denuclearization Without Departure from Subordination to U.S.

The main subject of the coming general election is denuclearization.

It seems to me that no political party seriously tries to realize it.

Rather, no political party voicing an objection to denuclearization seems to realize how difficult it is to realize it.

Real difficulty of denuclearization does not arise in finding new energy source or showing operation schedule.

Once political decision on denuclearization is made, such thing is possible by gathering wisdom from all fields and addressing it with desperation.

What matters is to make political decision on denuclearization.

And such decision cannot be made unless we become independent from subordination to U.S.

The Mainichi Shimbun, dated December 4, has run an important article titled “Denuclearization: Seriousness Questioned.”

I have paid attention to the following part in the article.

“…  The Noda administration set back its “denuclearization” policy because of strong backlash from the municipalities where nuclear power plants are built and the business community which is concerned about hollowing out of industry due to electric bill hike as well as our ally U.S.  ……”

Political decision on denuclearization leads to political decision on Okinawa issue which is symbolized by refusal of deployment of the Osprey.

Why will it take forever to solve the Okinawa issue?

That’s because successive administrations have tried to yield to demands from U.S. while compelling Okinawa residents to accept them.

That’s because there was no leader who had will and resolution to tell to the U.S. government a long-cherished wish of Okinawa residents as the Japanese and to realize it.

Denuclearization and Osprey deployment are two side of the same coin.

Suffering of Okinawa is the same as that of Fukushima.

The Japanese government has prioritized the intention of the U.S. government, turning a deaf ear to outcry of the people.

I defy such Japanese politics and want to realize politics in which top priority is given on living and life of the Japanese.

I want politics which puts an end to the domination of this country by bureaucrats, cat’s paw of the U.S.

I have supported Ichiro Ozawa who will, I expect, realize it.

While thinking it is difficult even for him, I have supported him, hoping that he is the only politician that can realize it.

It was his turn when he was found not guilty.  However, he brought out Governor Kada to the forefront.  At that time I felt dubious of it.

When I saw a final lineup of expected candidates recruited by the Japan Tomorrow Party led by Governor Kada, I felt deeply disappointed.

This lineup of candidates will not make it possible to get independent from U.S. and fight against bureaucrats who are subservient to U.S.

Even if all candidates get elected, they are good for nothing.

The administration after the general election, whatever combination it may be, will be a coalition government consisting of political parties that finely agree with one another on the point of enhancement of the Japan-U.S. alliance.

There can be no real denuclearization.

[Prof. Hiroaki Koide] Nuclear Power Plants and Politics/Politicians

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After reading an article on interview with Prof. Hiroaki Koide, I was surprised to learn that he shares the same opinion that much.
I am different from him only in that he says “We should eat contaminated good in order to save farmers.”  It’s my understanding that Prof. Koide’s mercifulness had him make a wrong judgment.

Masatoshi Takeshita
December 2, 2012

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English translation of an excerpt from a Japanese article: Soon the northern wind will blow – December 1, 2012 –
Prof. Koide November 29 “Nuclear Power Plants and Politics/Politicians”





Iwakami:  I do understand well that you don’t want to commit yourself to politics.  Apart from other policies, I’d like to ask you what you think about nuclear power plant policy.

Koide:  Well, I don’t like politics.  It is because people like Mr. Hashimoto are politicians.

Iwakami:  Oh!

Koide:  In a word, he has no basic policy at all.
At one time, he said, “I’m against nuclear power plants.”  However, he easily ate his words.  He loves someone strong.  He wants himself to be strong and loves someone strong.
He curries favor with Mr. Ishihara who seems to be stronger and cozies up to him, abandoning his commitment to denuclearization.  He seems to be that kind of person.  I feel that as long as such person engages in politics, I have no hope for it.  Therefore, I want to keep my distance from politicians as much as possible.

Koide:  Although it is not a very nice way to put it, he always says something to get to be popular among the public.  If he considers it ineffective, he throws it away.  He thinks it realistic.

Iwakami:  I see.  When he mentioned “to abandon nuclear power generation,” he sensed how the public felt to win popularity.

Koide:  He lacked coherence at the time of restarting the Ohi nuclear power plant, too.
Yielding to the threat of “possible blackout,” he made a slip of the tongue and said, “It is over” and “I’m defeated.”  We had no blackout.  I thought that he should fight bravely.  Well, it shows that he is such type of person by his nature.

Iwakami:  As for Mr. Shintato Ishihara, he mentions not only the promotion of nuclear power generation but the discussion about the possession of nuclear weapons.
The Senkaku territory issue came up.  It was Mr. Shintaro Ishihara that ignited the dispute.  His remarks made the relations with China soured and changed the domestic atmosphere.

In this situation, he quit the Tokyo governorship and tried to embark on national politics.  What is your evaluation of his political stance?

Koide:  Mr. Ishihara loves someone strong much better than Mr. Hashimoto does.  I think that he probably wants to control this country and also the world with power.
I think that his way of thinking is basically wrong, and I have wanted people like him not to engage in politics and my opinion is the same as before.

Iwakami:  Do you think that possession of nuclear weapons is realistically possible?

Koide:  Yes, of course.  “Use of nuclear power plants for power generation, not for nuclear weapons” was the first official reason, but to begin with, a prime reason for Japan to get involved in nuclear power was for nuclear weapons.


Koide:  Some two years ago, NHK broadcasted a program “Japan that needs nuclear weapons.”
It was a program which describes what intention Japan had in the 1960s when the country rushed headlong into nuclear power; the intention was clarified by collection of testimony of the diplomats at the time, diplomatic documents and testimony of diplomats of a foreign country, Germany.

“Japan should always be prepared to have nuclear weapons” was Japan’s intention.

Then document says that it should be made known to the public.

I think it indicates that finally Japan has started teaching the public the fact that “Japan should also have nuclear weapons.”

Iwakami:  The recent move toward this….

Koide:  Considering the fact that NHK produced such program…

Iwakami:  The LDP also proposed to revise the Constitution and make the SDF the national armed forces.  These will lead to approving the use of Japan’s right of collective self-defense, under which Japan can be mobilized as U.S. subcontractor and also to putting an emphasis on “nuclear weapons.”
What do you think of LDP’s stance?

Koide:  They have had a consistent stance.

Koide:  The LDP wants to immediately revise the Constitution.  Especially Mr. Abe was at the head of advocates of constitutional amendment.  If LDP should take on the next administration, Japan will direct its course all the more toward revising the Constitution, never abandoning nuclear power and reviving it.

Iwakami:  For example, the Senkaku Islands issue, the tense relations between Japan and China or U.S. commitment to it.  What do you think?

Koide:  All we have to do is to get back to the spirit of a constitution.  Take for example the Constitution of Japan.  As you know well, the Article 9 says that “The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.”
The article prescribes clearly: In order to accomplish it, land, sea and air forces will never be maintained.   As Japan declares “it will ban the use of force as means of settling international conflicts,” Japan only has to observe the constitution.

First of all, we have to stop being subject state to any countries.

Iwakami:  It lasted only for a few days, but there was a move where each force got together to form a third force of center-liberals.

A party was formed with Shiga Governor Kada as leader and Mr. Tetsuya Iida as acting leader.  The People’s Life First and the Anti-Nuclear Power formed by Mr. Kamei and Mr. Yamada, which has not yet a political party, have joined the party.

What do you think of this move?
Or what do you think about Ms. Kada as leader?

Koide:  In the two-party system, we had to choose either DPJ or LDP.  However, either party is not good.

I think that we should immediately abandon nuclear power.  Either party is not good.  The party formed by Mr. Hashimoto and Mr. Ishihara is not good, either.

Then I had wished that some organization, where those who have tried to stop nuclear power plant operation are accepted, could be created.  Therefore, I feel grateful for Ms. Kada who has created such organization.

To stop nuclear power plant operation is not only the problem of nuclear reactors but relates to “what type of society to build.”  I’d like to thank her for making it a top priority to “stop nuclear power plant operation.”  I hope Ms. Kada and others will participate actively in politics.

Iwakami:  Mr. Ozawa immediately disbanded his own party “People’s Life First” and made an about-turn to join the Mirai no To (Tomorrow Party) which tried to form alliances with this goal of getting Japan out of nuclear power.

What do you think of Mr. Ozawa as politician?

Koide:  I originally dislike the strong.  So,…

Koide:  I think that a society seeking the strong is rotten in the first place.  Like Mr. Hashimoto and Mr. Ishihara who want to get strong and yearn for the strong, many people seem to “expect some strong leaders to appear.”  I think this is wrong.  Rather, it is important for each of us to live with clear self-awareness as sovereign member of society.  I think that “we should not seek strong leaders.”
In that sense, Mr. Ozawa is one of strong leaders.

As long as I hear his recent comments, I think he is very respectable.
He is respectable because he has got to definitely give his opinion and claim to “opposition to nuclear power.”
With regard to the current move, he swiftly disbanded his party and decided to merge into Mirai no To, which tries to mobilize people with policy centering on denuclearization.  He is indeed a competent politician.

However, as I say many times, I have no trust in politics.  As he has engaged in politics for many years, Mr. Ozawa might change his attitude in political world in future.  Therefore, I am not completely free of uncertainty about him.


[Summary of Hiroaki Koide’s Unofficial Website] It Is Revealed on November 15 That Prof. Shinya Yamanaka, a Nobel Prize Winner, Had Attended Lecture by Associate Prof. Hiroaki Koide As an Audience!

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To tell the truth, I am a fan of Prof. Shinya Yamanaka, a Nobel Prize winter.  He is a scientist and also warm-hearted person.  Such scientists like him are rare.  Therefore, he is truly a treasure for all humanity.  He knows what is truly important.

Masatoshi Takeshita
November 27, 2012


English translation of an excerpt from Summary of Associate Prof. of Kyoto University Hiroaki Koide’s Unofficial Website – November 27, 2012 –

It Is Revealed on November 15 That Prf. Shinya Yamanaka, a Nobel Prize Winner, Had Attended Lecture by Associate Prof. Hiroaki Koide As an Audience!  (Interviewer: Noriyuki Imanishi)



Prof. Shinya Yamanaka, a Nobel Prize winner, attended the lecture by Associate Prof. Hiroaki Koide.


On November 15, a video picture on the interview with Associate Prof. Hiroaki Koide made by Mr. Noriyuki Imanishi, “Suki Suki Tanemaki no Kai,” was webcasted on YOU TUBE.  We would like to share it in this blog, too.

Imanishi: Did Prof. Yamanaka attend your lecture meeting?

Koide:                     Yes, he came as an audience.

Imanishi:                When?

Koide:                      A little over one year ago.

Imanishi: It’s after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, wasn’t it?

Koide:                      Yes.  I was given a chance to speak at Nara Women’s University.  I gave an ordinary lecture.  Prof. Yamanaka was among the audience.  After the lecture, he came to talk with me.  At first, I didn’t recognize that he was Prof. Yamanaka.  Later I participated in an exchange party held by organizers, but he seemed to refuse participating in it.  Therefore, I ended up standing around chatting with him before the party.

Imanishi: What did you talk about?

Koide:                      He took up the biological effects of radiation as a topic.  I said what I had been thinking about it.  I had an impression that he is different from so-called great people.

Imanishi: How different?

Koide:                      Great people usually won’t attend my lecture.

Imanishi: Well, I certainly think so.

Koide:                      Such people who have achieved social status live in established society or organization.  Basically, they have no interest in the world outside.  Even more, almost none of them come out to attend such a lecture as an audience.

[Dr. Helen Caldicott] “In Fukushima “criminal” and “immoral” act is being performed.”

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Information from Mr. Masatoshi Takeshita posted on his blog – November 22, 2012 –

English translation of a Japanese article: Ryusaku Tanaka Journal – November 21, 2012 –
  

Dr. Caldicott frankly expressed a feeling of distrust toward the Japanese government and mass media.
= At the Members’ Office Building of the House of Representatives on 19th    Photo: by Tanaka =


Dr. Helen Caldicott, an Australian pediatrician, well-informed of radiation diseases, held a press interview at the First Members’ Office Building of the House of Representatives on 19th.  Dr. Caldicott has conducted a speaking tour in various places in Japan.

The interest of the media has been dominantly attracted by the upcoming election after the dissolution of the House of Representatives.  As a result only one overseas TV station and several reporters participated in the interview.  Dr. Caldicott often used the words of “criminal” and “immoral” and criticized the mass media for being unwilling to report this fact.  I feel her irritation about Japanese society throughout her speech.

At the beginning of the speech, Dr. Caldicott said “It is “medical crime” not to evacuate children, pregnant women and women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) living at high-dose regions in Fukushima.  I hear that ultrasonic examination showed 40% incidence of thyroid abnormalities among children less than 18 years of age.  This is quite abnormal in the eye of a pediatrician.” and she pointed out that exposure dose in Fukushima far more exceeds that of Chernobyl.

As for relocation of children, pregnant women and WOCBP, “Although it is important for the government to bear expenses for relocation, the government uses its budget to protect TEPCO, not the weak,” she said.  Dr. Caldicott said “Japan has no regulation on taking in radiation-contaminated food.”  She also said “it is ‘medically immoral’ to have children consume contaminated food” and criticized the central government, Fukushima prefectural government and the medical world that has kept silent for their failing to act.

Lectures in Japan by Dr. Caldicott were intended not only for medical doctors but for ordinary people.  I hear that every site with a capacity of hundreds of people was filled with people.  According to Dr. Caldicott, the audience seemed to desperately know what to do.

“The media should be responsible for publicizing the truth to as many people as possible.  However, (in Japan) it does not seem to be the case with Japan,” she sai and reminded the media of indifference to radioactive damage.

Dr. Caldicott warned that “The accident in Fukushima is not over.  Decontamination is impossible even if the government tries to finish it over 40 years.  The land, people and food will remain to be contaminated for more than 300 years to come” and raised a question about easy decontamination and wishes for returning home.  She also condemned debris incineration as “criminal act.”

During the Q and A session, I asked her two following questions.

Tanaka: Japanese doctors went to Ukraine (where the Chernobyl nuclear accident took place) and Ukrainian doctors visited Japan.  Japanese government and doctors must know the fact that we’ll have a high incidence of cancer in four years.  What do you think of this?

Dr. Calidcott: “Yes.  As exemplified by cases of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it is known that the incidence peak of leukemia will be seen five years after the accident and that of other types of cancer later.  I am surprised at what makes doctors refrain from raising their voice through the media.  It is “Total Blackout” (total news censorship)”

“Many people seem to live each day, forgetting about Fukushima.  This is worse than at the time of the Minamata disease.  Although the Japanese government wants other countries to think highly of it, it will be definitely accused of irresponsibility after epidemiological figures of (the incidence of cancers) are revealed.”

Tanaka:  Some doctors have made profits by advertising vitamin supplements, especially vitamin C as good for radioactivity.

Dr. Caldicott:  No, it is not effective.  It is medically wrong.

Lastly, Dr. Caldicott concluded the interview with the words: “A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been discriminated.  Considering the Japanese mentality, I am concerned about the possibility that the same thing will happen with people from Fukushima.”

Prejudice against people from Fukushima has already been heard here and there.  Is this writer the only person that can’t sit still as Japanese?

[Ryusaku Tanaka] Tokyo Gubernatorial Election: Mr. Kenji Utsunomiya, the Man for the Poor, Sets Goal for Denuclearization

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I posted an article on Unity’s blog on April 29, 2011, where I introduced six people as “pioneers of this age.”  Mrs. Miyuki Hatoyama, you are the last performer.  You are the only person that can start a disclosure project in Japan.  Let’s change the world.

Masatoshi Takeshita

[Link (by Editor)]
Message from Mr. Masatoshi Takeshita (5) Pioneers of This Age

Article with a tag “Disclorue Project”


English translation of an excerpt of a Japanese article: Ryusaku Tanaka Journal – November 14, 2012

Tokyo Gubernatorial Election: Mr. Kenji Utsunomiya, the Man for the Poor, Sets Goal for Denuclearization




Mr. Kenji Utsunomiya, an expected candidate for Tokyo Governor
He haltingly expressed his determination for running for Tokyo gubernatorial election.
 = at Nakano Zero Hall on 14th night    Photo: by Tanaka =

A candidate as a representative of the people, never belonging to LDP/New Komeito or DPJ, has appeared on the scene.  Kenji Utsunomiya, the former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, who will run for the Tokyo gubernatorial election (to be announced on November 29 and to be held on December 16), with a goal of denuclearization and anti-poverty, has held the kickoff meeting at Nakano Ward tonight.

Expected candidate Utsunomiya was born at a farming and fishing village in Ehime Prefecture on December 1946.  His father was a disable soldier and his family was in poverty.  He looks back and says “I had never eaten rice when I was a child.”

Mr. Utsunomiya, the representative of Anti-Poverty Network, served as an honorary chief of Tent City for Jobless over the New Year Period, created at Hibiya Park in Tokyo at the end of 2008 when the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers caused many temporary workers to be laid off.  He is also famous for his fight against greedy loan sharks to stand with heavy debtors.




“Media Voluntary Support Group” - An election race of Utsunomiya camp is going to be broadcasted live on Ustream.  = Photo by Tanaka =


“To create Tokyo with a goal of denuclearization is to create Japan and the world with the same goal.  Tokyo without nuclear power generation will be environmentally-friendly Tokyo and Japan………….The Ishihara Metropolitan government which carried out a large-scale development has expanded poverty and widened the gap between the rich and the poor. …………………………………… Let’s create peaceful Japan.”  Mr. Utsunomiya has clearly revealed a policy for breaking away from the Ishihara Metropolitan government policy.

Although newspapers and TV stations cover candidates of LDP/New Komeito and DPJ with great fanfare, Mr. Utsunomiya will use SNS sites through citizen media.  It seems that voluntary group of ordinary people with no affiliation with any labor union, industry segment or religious organization, will carry on a campaign.

Nuclear power plant and poverty issues are the biggest subjects that Japanese common people can never escape from.  We cannot keep away our eyes off expected candidate Utsunomiya who tries to tackle these issues head-on.

(Report by Ryusaku Takana)

[Tokyo Shimbun] Our Newspaper to Be Awarded Kikuchi Kan Prize for “Spirit of Courageous Journalists” in Coverage of Nuclear Power Plant Accident

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Information from Mr. Masatoshi Takeshita posted on his blog – October 16, 2012 –

English translation of a Japanese article of Tokyo Shimbun – October 16, 2012 –

* about Tokyo Shimbun : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Shimbun *


Our Newspaper to Be Awarded Kikuchi Kan Kikuchi Prize for “Spirit of Courageous Journalists” in Coverage of Nuclear Power Plant Accident

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Literature announced on 15th that it would award the 60th Kikuchi Kan Prize to “Nuclear Power Plant Accident News Crew (current crew)” of Tokyo Shinbun (issued by Tokyo Head Office of Chunichi Shimbun) and others.  Other prizewinners include Mr. Ken Takakura, actor, and Ms. Ayako Sono, writer.  Prize money is 1 million yen a prizewinner.  An award presentation ceremony will be held in Tokyo in early December.

Our newspaper was awarded the prize for spirit of courageous journalists with which we have investigated and have reported why Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant accident occurred and have continued accusing the government and Tokyo Electric Power Company of trying to conceal information.  This is the second winning of the prize since the coverage of Lockheed Scandal trials “Crime of Prime Minister to be Judged” (in 1982).

Other prizewinners and prize-winning reasons are as follows: (Honorific titles are omitted)

*Ayako Sono – She made long-year achievements as literary person and critical essayist.  She has devoted to poverty alleviation activities in developing countries.

*Ken Takakura – Ha has been active as movie star in the movie industry for half-century, whose new film is “To You” and has pursued his own unique path.

*Makoto Kondo – As a pioneer of breast preserving surgical operation in cancer treatment, he expressed pioneer opinions on toxicity of anticancer drug and risks of extended surgery and raised awareness for the operation.

*Kaori Icho and Saori Yoshida – At the London Olympic Games, they won gold medals in female wrestling.  They achieved the third consecutive victory as the first Japanese females.

*Japanese Crested Ibis Protection Center in Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture – The center has been steadily engaged in artificial breeding and releasing into the wild.  It succeeded in breeding the birds in the natural environment in April this year for the first time in 36 years.

[Mr. Daiki Nakashita] Candid Voices of People Living for Their Life in Fukushima


Although I tried to choose some of all voices, I could not decide which to choose after reading all.  I’d like to introduce all voices.
Masatoshi Takeshita 


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English translation of a Japanese article: Daiki Nakashita’s Blog – October 4, 2012 –


I’m sending out tweets about candid voices of people living for their life in Fukushima, whose permission I’ve gotten.  I’d like to introduce their voices on my blog, too.

I’m sending out tweets about candid voices of people living for their life in Fukushima whose permission I’ve gotten.
I’ll post the voices which have received a great response, on my blog, too.
Please read them if you like.

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Female in her eighties living in temporary housing, Fukushima City
“Decontamination is practically the same as the situation in our young days (during the war) when we were forced to cry out diabolical cruelties against all Americans and English with bamboo spears.  Everybody knows that the government’s response is superficial and useless.  However, if we voice it, we are criticized. It is peer pressure; we are forced to conform to group norms.”


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Male in his sixties in Minamisoma City
“Takenaka Corporation, building contractor, receives a request for house decontamination at a cost of 5.6 million yen.  On-site subcontractors carry out the decontamination operations with 0.7 million yen after a lot of rake-off is paid to the corporation.  An end subcontractor worker is paid approximately eight thousand yen a day.
Subcontractor workers do sloppy work because they fall out of work after finishing decontamination.  Thus, ensuring job security achieves business turnaround.  This is the reality of decontamination business.


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Male in his sixties living in temporary housing, Iwaki City
“I have worked at a nuclear plant for thirty years, but I cannot work now because I was exposed to radiation.  People escape from reality if they are faced with bitter reality.  I deliberately avoid thinking about future.  I amuse myself by attempting to sing karaoke while drinking sake.  I myself feel miserable, thinking of what I’m doing at my age.


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Male in his sixties, living in temporary housing, Iwaki City
“Do you ask how we could stop nuclear power generation?  It’s simple.  Unless another nuclear power plant explodes and land is too contaminated for people to live, it is impossible to stop operation of nuclear plants.  It is another problem that U.S., business circles and bureaucrats put pressure upon politiciasn.”


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Mr. A in his seventies living in temporary housing (from Ookuma-machi)
“We approved of building nuclear power plants to live a stable life without going away to work during the winter time and to live at the same place with my children and grandchildren.  I approved of building nuclear power plants for affluent life and stable growth, and continued to work in a power plant.  I can’t believe what dropped in my lap unexpectedly.”

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Male in his seventies living in temporary housing, Iwaki City
“There are sufferers and sufferers.  Situations differ.  People who lost families and those who families survive; people who lost jobs and those who have jobs; people whose houses were swept away and those who have houses; people who have places they can return to and those who don’t; people who have money and those who have no money.  There is one thing I’m sure of, that disparities which existed before the earthquake have got revealed now.”
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Female in her fifties in Minamisoma City
“Recently I often think that human beings are more terrifying than radiation.  I feel that in some places of Fukushima prevails an atmosphere in which the mere talk about radiation makes people face peer pressure.  There are many people who intentionally desperately refuse to think about radiation issue.  It is a sort of brain breeze.  I wonder it is self-protection.”


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Male in his seventies living in temporary housing, Fukushima
“I have long worked in a nuclear power plant, but have had subcontractor workers perform dangerous work.  Although we knew that people from Sanya and Kamagasaki, where day laborers gather, were taken to the plant, we turned blind eyes to it.  Looking back on the accident now, I might be an assailant like TEPCO.”


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Male in his sixties in Nakadori, Fukushima
“I was astonished to listen to the radio.  The Fukushima Prefecture Board of Education appealed on radio to children to become strong enough to defeat radiation.  Residents in Nakadori are almost unaware of the fact that they are victims.  Therefore, the Board of Education criticizes people who evacuated from the prefecture.  Few people wear masks now.”


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Female in her twenties in Minamisoma City
“I have never studied about nuclear power plants.  However, it was not until my husband working for a subcontractor of TEPCO was hospitalized after exposure to radiation that I was awakened to reality.  Although I have been exposed to radiation since March 11 last year, I have lived a carefree life, thinking “I am safe because somebody will do something necessary” as if the accident were someone else’s problem.  Finally I have realized that indifference will destroys myself.”


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Female in her forties living in temporary housing, Iwaki City
“In temporary housing a middle-aged man committed suicide.  This might happen to me tomorrow……
However, whatever it takes, I can’t say to children ‘where there is life, there is hope.’  Bright future is absolutely impossible here in Fukushima.  I have never thought how difficult it is to live an ordinary life.”


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Female in her twenties in Minamisoma City
“Every time I hear about my female friends who got an abortion, I think it is impossible to have a child.  Although my husband and mother-in-law seem to want a child, I think it is impossible to raise a child in Fukushima.  I am surprised when I measure radiation dose near my home.  Even if I give birth to a child, I won’t let the child play outside.  I’ll feel sorry for the child.”


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Female in her twenties in Minamisoma City
“I have always criticized others such as the country, politics and TEPCO since the nuclear disaster.  However, thinking about myself carefully, I have never been to the polls, never read newspapers, and watch only comedy shows on TV.  Although I live near the nuclear power plants, I have never tried to know something about nuclear power plants.  Now I’m ashamed of myself.


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Male in his sixties (from Ookuma-machi) living in temporary housing, Aizu-Wakamatsu City
“Please, think about our town.  Ookuma is just a country town without employment, money or industries.  The town will get a significant benefit if it invites to set up nuclear power plants there.  How many people could refuse to eat it if the enticing carrot is dangled in front of them?  I think that there are some people who are never influenced by the power of money, but a very small number of people if any.”


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Male in his fifties living in temporary housing, Fukushima
“I went to Sendai.  I saw a lot of home builders from across the country get together in Sendai, which enjoys a reconstruction bubble economy.  I heard a business manager say that he enjoyed making profits.  I don’t want him to say aloud even if he really thinks so.  This is because a significant number of people were killed here in Tohoku district.”


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Male in his fifties living in temporary housing, Fukushima
“Two acquaintances of mine have committed suicide for the past several months.  Men are weak if they lose work or family.  They had played a good hand thanks to the titles on a name card, but they had lost everything after 3/11.  I am also unemployed.  There is a salon at a meeting place in temporary housing.  Do you think that a grown man can join it alone?”


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Female in her twenties living in temporary housing, Fukushima
“As I have children, I want to study about radiation exposure and try to participate in lecture meetings in the prefecture as often as possible.  However, great teachers say “Radiation dose is almost zero,” “There is no internal exposure” or “Fukushima is all right.”  I cannot get correct information.  If I voice it, I am criticized more severely.”


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Male in his sixties (from Ookuma-machi) living in temporary housing, Aizu
“I have already prepared myself fully.  There is no debris disposal site other than the area near the nuclear power plants where nobody can live any longer.  If there is money for decontamination, the government should buy up vacant lots in the neighborhood of the power plants to build a debris disposal plant.  No local residents think that they will be able to return to Ookuma.”


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Male in his fifties in Minamisoma City
“The way of TEPCO and the government is disgusting.  They never treat us as human beings.  However, I have always depended on TEPCO and the government.  What is the most wrong is my way of living without a spirit of independence.  I have fallen into brain freeze, thinking it is fine if I can enjoy myself now and I can make money all to myself.  I have lived, hushing up a disagreeable affair.”

[Mainichi Shimbun] Kaminoseki Nuclear Power Plant: Yamaguchi Prefectural Government Turns Down Chugoku Electric Power Co.’s Request for Extension of License

Normal 0 10 pt 0 2 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE $([{£¥‘“〈《「『【〔＄（［｛｢￡￥ !%),.:;?]}¢°’”‰′″℃、。々〉》」』】〕゛゜ゝゞ・ヽヾ！％），．：；？］｝｡｣､･ﾞﾟ￠
Information from one of our readers posted on our blog – October 7, 2012 –

If the Chugoku Electric Power Company’s license expires, efforts of Iwaiija residents, who have fought to protect the nature and fishing ground of Kaninoseki, will be paid off.  
(Kaoru Shirai, Representative of Shanti Phula)
  
English translation of an excerpt from a Japanese article: Mainichi JP (Mainichi Shimbun) – October 5, 2012 –


Kaminoseki Nuclear Power Plant: Yamaguchi Prefectural Government Turns Down Chugoku Electric Power Co.’s Request for Extension of License




Site where a Kaminoseki nuclear power plant is planned to be built.    In the right back is Iwaijima island = Photo taken by Shinji Kako on a helicopter of Mainichi Shibum’s head office, flying over Kaminoseki Town, Yamaguchi Prefecture

On 5th, Chugoku Electric Power Co. applied to Yamaguchi prefectural government for a three-year extension of license, which is necessary to reclaim land for Kaminoseki nuclear power plant planned to be built in Kaminoseki town, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

On the same day, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano said that the Kaminoseki nuclear complex is “subject to the principle of not constructing new reactors” and indicated the government’s intention not to allow the utility company to start construction work.  Chugoku Electric Power Co.’s application in spite of the government’s decision showed its aspiration for construction.  However, the prefectural government has a stance not to allow license extension for the reason that “national energy policy is indecisive.”  The plan for construction of a nuclear power plant may be practically dropped.

The license is due to expire at midnight on 7th of this month.  The prefectural government decides whether to accept the extension within 32 days and during the time the license is effective.  On 5th Governor Shigetaro Yamamoto told reporters, “We cannot approve it at this point.  We will not grand license.”

If the license expires, “The reclaimed site has to be restored to its original state.” (Comment by an executive official of Agency for Natural Resources and Energy)  It is very difficult to put the plan into action.

On 5th, with regard to Minister Edano’s remarks, Kaminoseki Town Mayor Shigemi Kashiwabara said in a press conference, “I don’t understand his real intention.  He changes his opinions every day.  I cannot trust his remarks unless I receive official notification.”  He showed mistrust in Minister Edano.  There are voices in local communities and neighboring municipalities that “If a change of government takes place, the use of nuclear energy is likely to gain momentum again.”

With regard to Minister Edano’s remarks about non-approval of construction, at first the person in charge of public relations of the utility company emphasized that the company interprets the remarks of Minister Edano as his personal opinion.  In the afternoon press conference, reporters asked Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura about the minister’s remarks for confirmation.  He refused to give his comment, saying “I cannot answer it.  I cannot give a reason for it.”

[Ryusaku Tanaka] Repeated Lies Concerning Ohma Nuclear Power Plant Procedures for Resumption of Construction To Be Taken Today

Normal 0 10 pt 0 2 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE $([{£¥‘“〈《「『【〔＄（［｛｢￡￥ !%),.:;?]}¢°’”‰′″℃、。々〉》」』】〕゛゜ゝゞ・ヽヾ！％），．：；？］｝｡｣､･ﾞﾟ￠
Information from Mr. Masatoshi Takeshita posted on his blog – October 1, 2012 –

English translation of a Japanese article: Ryusaku Tanaka Journal – October 1, 2012 –


Repeated Lies Concerning Ohma Nuclear Power Plant   Procedures for Resumption of Construction To Be Taken Today



Females protesting against the construction of Ohma nuclear power plant, in front of the head office of Electric Power Development Co.
= October 1 noon at Ginza in Tokyo   Photo: Tanaka =

Use of the word “childish shallow trick” will make children angry.  Nuclear policy of the Noda administration is a lie known to everybody.  In spite of the assurance that “construction of new nuclear power plants is not allowed”, the administration is going to give permission of the construction of three nuclear power plants including Ohma and Shimane.

As the operating life of a nuclear power plant is said to be 40 years, a newly constructed nuclear power plant will be operated for 40 years until the middle of the 2050s.  The word “to phase out nuclear power generation by the 2030s” is an utter lie.

Upon the “lifting of the ban” by the government, the Ohma nuclear power plant run by Japan Electric Power Development Co. (located in the Shimokita Peninsular, Aomiri Prefecture) quickly expressed the resumption of construction work.  President Masayoshi Kitamura visited the local communities and expressed that the company will start taking procedures to resume construction work.  Construction of the Ohma nuclear plant started in 2008, but it has been suspended since the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in 2011.

Environmental groups and citizens called for “opposition of construction” in front of the head office of Japan Electric Power Development Co., Ltd (located at Ginza in Tokyo) at lunch hour today.

“We have sufficient electricity.  We don’t need dangerous electricity made from MOX fuel,” they made an appeal toward a gigantic building of the company.

It is planned that plutonium-uranium oxide fuel, MOX fuel will be produced in nearby “Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant.”  However, the plant has not been operated due to repeated occurrence of troubles.  Even an executive of the company is said to have told to a Diet member “It will not be operated for a while.”

Unless the utility company ensures that it will “operate the reprocessing plant,” used fuel will be returned to it by Aomori prefectural government.  To avoid such situation, the company tries to construct the Ohma nuclear plan to generate electricity with MOX fuel produced in the reprocessing plant.

To cover up the first lie, they lie anew.  It is a story symbolizing irresponsible, makeshift nuclear policy.  It is grand fiction.

Under the facilities of the Ohma nuclear plant lie an active fault.  Once a big earthquake occurs, it is likely that a nightmare of Fukushima will be repeated.

Finally, I want to say “what ordinary people dislike most.”  Once a radiation leakage accident should occur, we cannot eat well-known Ohma tuna any longer.


[Hibi Zakkan] The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Says “Because of Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant Under Cold Shutdown Condition, Workers Exposed to Radiation Exceeding the Limit Are Not Cared For”

I wonder why they can do such devilish deed.  I do feel that the former USSR was a far more respectable country than Japan.
Masatoshi Takeshita


English translation of an excerpt from a Japanese article: Monju Bosatsu – Septemter 12, 2012 –


The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Says “Because Stricken Reactors at Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant Reached a State of Quasi-Cold Shutdown, Workers Exposed to Radiation Exceeding the Dose Limit Are Not Cared For”


It is said that the Ministry has stopped providing the subsidies for examination to workers at the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant who have been exposed to radiation beyond the dose limit, based on the reasoning that the stricken nuclear reactors at Fukushima No. 1 plant has reached a state of quasi-cold shutdown and has been back to the normal state and the plant should be treated in the same way as other nuclear power plants where no accidents have happened.

Work of the Devil



(an excerpt from the NHK news article)

‘Difference” in health support among nuclear power plant workers

September 12, 2012: 1910

It has been found that the subsidy system for examinations shall not apply to subcontract workers exposed to radiation at the TEPCO Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant accident even if they have been exposed to radiation beyond the dose limit anew, after the declaration of quasi-cold shutdown state of reactors made by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare last December.

Experts point out that “As workers are working under the condition of still high dose, the government should keep giving careful support to them.

After the accident, the Ministry designated the work at the plant for restoration from accident as “emergency work” because workers were likely to be exposed to high dose of radiation at the worksite.

As a result, the Ministry called for the employer to have workers examined for cataract in case of cumulative exposure dose exceeding 50 mSv and for cancer in case of cumulative exposure dose exceeding 100 mSv, respectively. It also established the system in which the government subsidizes examination costs to smaller subcontractors.

However, as the government declared the quasi-cold shutdown state of the reactors last December, the Ministry cancelled the designation of “emergency work” and decided to subsidize only workers who had already been exposed to radiation exceeding the dose limit at that time.

In line with the decision , those exposed to radiation exceeding the dose limit can continue to get subsidy for regular examinations, but those who started working immediately after the accident and were found to be exposed to radiation exceeding the dose limit after the declaration or those who joined the work anew after the declaration are exempt from the subsidy system.




Workers are just disposable pieces.