July 16, 2022

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on July 15 criticized Prime Minister Kishida’s remark intending to reactivate nine nuclear reactors which was made on the previous day after a court ordered former Tokyo Electric Power Company executives to pay a huge amount of compensation in a shareholder lawsuit over the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Koike pointed out that the court order imposing on four ex-TEPCO executives the payment of 13 trillion yen in damages shows the court's recognition that those who engage in operations of nuclear power plants bear a heavy responsibility and must be held accountable. He said that it is unacceptable for PM Kishida to bring nine nuclear reactors back online.

Koike said that if the government really seeks to realize a stable energy supply, it should go forward with measures to promote energy saving efforts and dramatically increase the use of renewables without delay.