"Backup" Tokyo (Capital of Japan) to Be Considered Somewhere in Japan to Preserve Government Functions in Case of Disaster

Locations already jockeying for the front-runner position to become a "backup" capital include Hokkaido, Osaka, and Fukuoka.

There they go again, looking for another construction boom in the land of earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear accidents.

From Jiji Tsushin (2/8/2012):

首都機能バックアップ検討へ＝１０日に初会合－民主

Democratic Party of Japan to consider backing up of the capital functions

　民主党は、「首都中枢機能バックアップ作業チーム」（座長・馬淵澄夫元国土交通相）の初会合を１０日に開く。東京が直下型地震などで壊滅的な被害に遭った場合に備え、代替策を検討する。首相官邸や中央省庁などの機能を一時的に移す地域を特定するかどうかが焦点。３月中に政府に報告書を提出する。

Democratic Party of Japan will hold the first meeting of "the working group for backing up the core functions of the capital" (headed by Sumio Mabuchi, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation) on February 10. It is to prepare for the case of Tokyo devastated by an epicentral earthquake. The focus will be whether the group designates a location to temporarily move the function of the Prime Minister's Official Residence and the central government ministries. The group will submit the report to the government by the end of March.

　東日本大震災を受け、国交省の有識者会議は昨年１２月、首都機能のバックアップに関する議論を開始した。同会議は具体的な地域名は決めないとしているが、既に北海道、大阪府、福岡市などが名乗りを上げるなど、誘致合戦が過熱し始めている。

The expert committee at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation started the discussion on backup functions of the capital last December, in light of the March 11, 2011 earthquake/tsunami. The committee says it won't specify the location [to which the functions will be moved], but heated campaigns to become a "backup" capital have already started among locations including Hokkaido, Osaka, and Fukuoka City.

Well, even after the Fukushima I Nuke Plant accident, they still do not (or cannot) say they should consider a potential nuclear disaster when planning a backup capital. If they do consider, there may be nowhere in Japan that's suitable.

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