Japan to restart first nuclear reactor in northeast since 2011 Fukushima disaster

Japan is set to restart its first nuclear reactor in the country's northeast in September since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, which was triggered by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake.

Activists are trying to stop the restart of the Onagawa nuclear plant, citing concerns about inadequate safeguards in the face of similar disasters.

The plant's operator, Tohoku Power, says the reactor will help meet more than half of the region's energy needs.

Fishermen, whose export business has been affected by nuclear waste from the Fukushima incident, are concerned that the restart without adequate security could add to their trade difficulties.

"Fishers' are already suffering from the treated waste being discharged from Fukushima. If there's a restart in Onagawa, and another accident occurs, they'll suffer even more," said Hiroshi Takano, a former Onagawa council member.

The Onagawa plant survived the tsunami waves that hit the site in 2011, even though it was much closer to the epicenter of the quake than Fukushima. That's largely thanks to a tsunami wall. In preparation for the restart, the wall has been doubled in height.

However, there are other potential hazards. Local resident Nobuo Hara said the plant's location on a narrow peninsula makes evacuation in the event of a disaster potentially dangerous.

Although officials in Miyagi Prefecture, where the plant is located, have drawn up an emergency plan, Hara sued the prefecture to stop the restart.

"We drilled the evacuation plan and found the roads became congested with evacuees. We couldn't reach the final evacuation center or transport essentials. We learned that Miyagi prefecture’s plan has no applied effectiveness," Hara said.

The local government says the public largely supports the plan, but a local newspaper in 2020 reported that 61 percent of them opposed the restart, while only 36 percent supported it.

Satoshi Tatara, a representative with Miyagi Action Against Onagawa Recommission, said there may be other reasons for this reluctance to restart after the nuclear disaster.

"We believe officials are under the sway of the powerful pro-nuclear lobby in Japan. It supports the ruling party with huge donations. That becomes the priority over the lives and safety of residents," he said.

Japan to restart first nuclear reactor in northeast since 2011 Fukushima disaster

Over 32,000 Japanese people on Friday rallied at a park in Tokyo, capital of Japan, calling for peace and protection of Japan's Constitution, including the war-renouncing Article 9, as the country marked the 77th anniversary of its pacifist post-war Constitution.

The protesters held placards to voice their opposition to the revision of the pacifist constitution and the military expansion, and called for safeguarding peace.

Article 9 of the Constitution renounces the nation's right to engage in war or to resort to military force to resolve international conflicts and stipulates that "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained".

However, in recent years, Japan has lifted the ban on the export of fighter jets to third countries, strengthened its military alliance with the United States, expanded its military, and forcibly acquires the "enemy base strike capabilities" by updating the "three security and defense-related documents". These actions have made more Japanese people feel uneasy.

"I believe that strengthening the military alliance with the United States will put Japan in danger. Japan has gradually increased its military spending and intends to export its lethal weapons overseas. This is a very dangerous move," said a protester.

"The Liberal Democratic Party has been proposing to revise the Constitution to include 'emergency clause' in it so as to pave the way for Japan to engage in war. That's what they're really trying to do with the constitution revision," said another protester.

Against the backdrop of the depreciation of the Japanese currency and price hikes, the Japanese government's decision to significantly increase the defense budget for 2024 has caused dissatisfaction and concerns among the Japanese people.

"The increase in military expenditure will impoverish the country and lower people's living standard, which I fear will lead to a national recession," said a demonstrator.

Japanese rally in Tokyo to defend pacifist Constitution, calling for peace