Japan’s push for nuclear power deters from the country addressing the climate crisis. Find out why.

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) Subverts Own Post-Fukushima Safety Rules Allows Ohi Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 & 4 ‘s Continued Operation For immediate release: 3 July 2013 Contact: Aileen Mioko Smith (Tel: +81-90-3620-9251) Kyoto, Japan—-The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) today approved continued operation of Kansai Electric’s Ohi Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 located in Fukui Prefecture even though it is the first to admit the two plants do not meet new post-Fukushima regulatory standards. The standards will take effect Monday, 8 July. “The NRA has taken the lead in ignoring compliance with its new nuclear regulatory rules which have been created to apply the lessons learned from…

23 January 2011 Statement by Minamata Victims and Supporter Groups Addressing the Government of Japan’s Proposal to Call the Mercury Treaty the “Minamata Convention” ta disease is an ongoing tragedy. As the global community negotiates the mercury treaty, the Japanese government must first confront the Minamata disease issue at home. After fifty-five years of struggling with the disaster, we are opposed to naming the mercury treaty the “Minamata Convention” until the tragedy is faced head on and a road map created for its genuine resolution. The Government of Japan must make clear what was learned from Minamata, implement the lessons learned and, before the diplomatic conference in 2013, reexamine its…

This is an English translation of the key technical arguments of plaintiffs and defendant in the first court ruling to be handed down concerning the safety of Japanese operating nuclear power plants since the March 11th 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident. The ruling is expected the week of 8 April. For an overview, arguments up to the closing of the case, and the implications of this lawsuit to nuclear power in Japan see: Download：http://www.greenaction-japan.org/internal/130405_stop_the_operation_of_Ohi_en.pdf [English translation issued by Mihama-no-Kai and Green Action / 5 April 2013] [Notes concerning this translation: The text below describes the basic legal arguments of the plaintiffs and defendant. The verdict is expected the first part of…

Sept 24th 2004PETITIONFUKUI PREFECTURE To: Shoichi Nakagawa, Minister, Ministry of Economy, Trade and IndustryFrom: Issei Nishikawa, Governor, Fukui Prefecture On the 9th of August 2004 an accident occurred at the Mihama Nuclear Power Station Unit 3 reactor. This incident seriously injured 11 people 5 of which lost their lives. This was the biggest disaster to date in the history of Japanese nuclear power. In Fukui Prefecture we have worked hard for many years to win the people s trust and to build a safe reputation for nuclear power. It is extremely regrettable that this accident has destroyed that trust and the reputation of nuclear power in Fukui Prefecture. I have…

For immediate release: April 9, 2002 For further information contact: Aileen Mioko Smith 090-3620-9251, or Stephen Ready Kyoto, Japan–The Japanese Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) in its 2001 White Paper reaches the conclusion that use of plutonium at Japanese nuclear power plants is safe. However, the NSC’s has a poor record when it comes to declaring there is no problem with Japan’s MOX program. In 1999 when citizen organizations submitted evidence to the NSC that MOX fuel manufactured by the British company BNFL for Kansai Electric had falsified quality control data, the NSC failed to address the issue. Citizens filed an injunction against use of the fuel and were subsequently proven…