Japan Press Weekly

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2012 March 14 - 20 [TOKYO]

Tokyo governor willing to have N-plant built in Tokyo Bay

A Japanese Communist Party Tokyo Metropolitan assemblyperson on March 15 demanded that the Tokyo governor retract his remarks proclaiming his willingness to locate a nuclear power plant in Tokyo Bay.

At a budget committee meeting held on the previous day, Governor Ishihara Shintaro stated, “It would be no problem whatsoever to have (an NPP) constructed somewhere in Tokyo Bay.”

During the same meeting he also said, “Considering earthquake hazards, it would be better to construct (an NPP) in the mountains than near the beach. As many mountains remain in Chiba Prefecture, it would be good idea to have one on the top of Mt.　Nokogiri.”

JCP assemblyperson Oyama Tomoyo argued, “No matter where they are built, NPPs in quake-prone Japan always pose a danger of occurrence of a severe nuclear accident,” and demanded an apology from Ishihara to Tokyoites and Chiba residents.

However, the governor defiantly said, “I have absolutely no intention to apologize.”

Oyama pointed out that concrete technologies and measures to fully prevent radiation contamination once a severe accident occurs do not exist, and criticized the governor for still adhering to the nuclear “safety myth”.