Nuclear Energy Policy after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident: An Analysis of “Polarized Debate” in Japan

The Tokyo Electric Power’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011 was a turning point for Japan’s nuclear energy and overall energy policy. In reality, Japan has reduced its dependence on nuclear energy drastically despite the government’s policy to maintain nuclear energy as a major power source. Even with sharp drop in production from nuclear energy, Japan could achieve carbon reduction of around 60–70% by 2050 even without nuclear power. But the biggest impact of the Fukushima accident is the loss of public trust. The policy debate on nuclear energy is now divided between “pro” and “anti” of nuclear power. The aim of this study is to analyze why such “polarized debate” has not been resolved and find a way to restore public trust. This study analyzes three important nuclear energy policy issues, i.e., decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, spent nuclear fuel and waste management, and plutonium stockpile management. The analysis of these three cases suggest that lack of independent oversight organizations is a common cause of impasse of nuclear energy policy debate. The author argues that Japan needs to establish independent oversight organizations in order to gain public trust and solve important policy issues regardless of the future of nuclear energy

Variation of intensity of singular stress field (ISSF) along the interface outer edge of prismatic butt joint and debonding condition expressed by the ISSF

In our previous study, the adhesive strength of butt joints having three-dimensional (3D) geometries was investigated by using the intensity of singular stress field (ISSF) in two-dimensional modelling. In this paper, by considering the 3D geometry, the ISSF variation along the butt-joint interface side is discussed to explain the experimental results. The results show that the critical ISSF distributions when debonding occur are almost the same and independent of the adhesive bondline thickness. The validity of the 2D modelling is investigated experimentally for two kinds of brittle and ductile adhesives considering the location of the maximum ISSF. It is found that the adhesive strength can be expressed as a constant value of the ISSF at the center side and also at the corner of the adhesive interface

Updating from Lessons Learnt from Fukushima

After six years of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, the situation in Japan’s nuclear power program is still very uncertain. Decommissioning of the Fukushima reactors are making slower progress than expected, and technical difficulties remain challenging. Recovery of contaminated areas and reconstruction of life of affected residents is also facing social-political problems.Proceedings of the XX Edoardo Amaldi Conference, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Rome, Italy, October 9-10, 201

Nuclear Security Policy of the Obama Administration – Its Achievements and Issues Left Behind: An Interview with Laura Holgate

Ms Laura Holgate has been a major force in enhancing nuclear security since the end of Cold War, starting her career in the US Clinton Administration and the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), and devoting herself to the Obama Administration. In this interview, she spoke very frankly about her personal history and her experiences working with both administrations, particularly with the Obama administration. The following interview consists of four parts: (1) Ms Holgate’s personal history and interests; (2) the evolution of nuclear security; (3) major achievements of the Obama administration, especially the Nuclear Security Summit; and (4) issues left behind and the role of Japan

The role of technological choices in international nuclear fuel assurance strategies.

Thesis: M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Nuclear Engineering, 1979Bibliography: leaves 195-198.M.S.M.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Nuclear Engineerin

Report of Panel on Peace and Security of Northeast Asia (PSNA) 2017

The Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, Nagasaki University (RECNA) published a report entitled, “A Comprehensive Approach toward Northeast Asia-Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (NEA-NWFZ)” in March 2015. Since then, the RECNA has been organizing activities to follow up its own recommendations. One specific output is the Panel on the Peace and Security of Northeast Asia (PSNA), which was established in November 2016 to facilitate “political processes through timely policy recommendations and public engagement, to create a NEA-NWFZ as part of establishing peace and security in the region.” The panel consists of 17 members from eight countries (Australia, China, Germany, Japan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, the UK, and the US) with four co-chairs (Morton Halperin, Michael Hamel-Green, Chung-in Moon, and Hiromichi Umbeyashi). PSNA held its kick-off meeting in Nagasaki on 19–21 November 2016. The PSNA held its second meeting in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on 24–25 June 2017. This report contains three sections: (1) summary of the discussion at the second PSNA meeting, (2) comments from the co-chairs, and (3) updated analysis of the summary of discussion. While the contents of this report are based on PSNA activities, the author alone is responsible for the contents