Japan Press Weekly

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2011 March 23 - 29 [TOKYO]

Koike criticizes Governor Ishihara’s remark ‘I am a pro-nuclear power’

Tokyo governor candidate Koike Akira on March 24 sharply criticized current governor Ishihara Shintaro for stating, “I basically am a pro-nuclear-power.”

Despite the nuclear accidents at the Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant in the Great East Japan Disaster, Ishihara at a press conference on March 23 made this thoughtless comment. He has often insisted that a nuclear power plant should be built in the Tokyo Bay area.

Koike stressed, “When citizens in Tokyo and across the country are taking alarm, I really don’t understand how Ishihara could say something like that. In order to protect the lives of Tokyo residents, we should find a way out of dependence on nuclear power generation and make the appropriate changes in energy policy.”

In addition, Ishihara, regarding the occurrence of the Great East Japan Disaster, said, “Maybe it was some kind of sign; I feel like it was the Word of God.”

Stating that in order to “train young people, it is necessary for all people who reach 18 years old to enter the police force, fire-fighting forces, military, or work as overseas cooperation volunteers for a year or two in order to experience disciplined, organizational activities,” and he emphasized the need for an introduction of a military-draft system.