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2013/06/10
Kaieda visits TEPCO’s Fukushima Revitalization HQ, meets with Fukushima Governor
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On June 10, DPJ President Banri Kaieda visited Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Revitalization Headquarters and Fukushima Prefectural Offices, both located in Fukushima city. He met with the head of the Fukushima Revitalization Headquarters, Yoshiyuki Ishizaki, Fukushima Governor Yuhei Sato and others, and engaged in vigorous discussions.
At the start of the meeting at TEPCO’s Revitalization Headquarters, Kaieda received an explanation from Ishizaki and others regarding the main projects being undertaken, such as revitalization of Fukushima, decontamination, compensation, and decommissioning of the nuclear power plants. Following this, Kaieda pointed out that there were many voices saying that revitalization and compensation is still proceeding too slowly, and urged TEPCO to make renewed efforts in this respect. He also asked for TEPCO’s opinion on the plan to build an underground wall to prevent ground water from flowing into the reactor building at Fukushima No. 1. The TEPCO side responded that consideration of the plan’s viability would be completed by the end of the year, but that according to experts there would be many difficulties in realizing such a project.
The discussion also ranged over a variety of issues, such as the boring of wells for evacuees returning to their homes, the decommissioning of Fukushima No. 2, and obtaining the understanding of fishermen for the release of ground water into the sea. Kaieda also heard from the Chair of the Fukushima Branch of TEPCO’s labour union, who described the actual situation of individual workers on the ground as they tried to deal with the effects of the nuclear accident.
Following this, Kaieda met with Governor Sato. He gave his impressions following his visit to various parts of Fukushima prefecture on the previous day. Sato commented that “There has been no change in the situation at the nuclear power plants [where trouble has been continuing]” and also gave an update on the progress of the decontamination operation. In particular, Governor Sato stated that there was a difference in perception of the nuclear accident between Fukushima and other areas of Japan such as Tokyo, and people’s awareness of the incident was fading. He expressed the opinion that if the nuclear accident was to be treated as a national issue, this would lead to an eradication of the financial damage caused by misinformation. Kaieda responded to these remarks, saying, “Although two years have passed, I still felt we have a long way to go” and expressed his desire to actively engage in issues such as the expiration of eligibility for compensation, commenting, “There are many issues that must be tackled with a multi-partisan framework.”
After the series of meetings had finished, Kaieda spoke to reporters at Fukushima Prefecture’s offices. First of all he gave his impressions regarding his first visit to the Ukedo area of Namie town inside the exclusion zone, saying that he felt as if the clock had been turned back to the time of the disaster and was reminded of the horror of the damage caused by the tsunami and nuclear accident at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake two years and three months ago. He also mentioned the topics of his meetings with Governor Sato and TEPCO executives, and said that he had felt the strong desire of the residents of Fukushima to rid Japan of nuclear power plants. Kaieda also expressed doubts as to whether the revitalization effort was really proceeding at high speed, and stated he intended to question Prime Minister Abe regarding this.
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