Mayor of Osaka City: Never Waste a Good Crisis, Younger Generation Needs to Experience Rolling Blackout

Toru Hashimoto, current Mayor of Osaka City and ex-Governor of Osaka Prefecture, wants the younger generation who does't know the first oil crisis (1973-74) to experience what it is like to live with the rolling blackouts. I suppose that includes him, having been born in 1969 and not even in the elementary school when the oil crisis hit. His older sidekick, Governor of Osaka Ichiro Matsui, is playing the "good cop" saying it's not that easy. A comedy routine.

Ah bright future for Japan when he is considered the forerunner to become the next Prime Minister. The other choices are equally bleak - Goshi Hosono, Yukio Edano, among others.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (5/14/2012), who has been one of the biggest cheerleaders for this boy-wonder mayor:

橋下徹大阪市長は１４日、関西電力大飯原発３、４号機（福井県おおい町）が再稼働しない場合に関西で深刻な電力不足が見込まれることについて、報道陣に「こういう状況は二度とない。次世代のために電力使用制限令とはどういうことなのか、しっかり経験することが必要だ」と述べ、制限令の受け入れもやむを得ないとの考えを示した。

Toru Hashimoto, Mayor of Osaka City, spoke to the press on the potentially serious power shortage in Kansai Region in case Reactors 3 and 4 of Ooi Nuclear Power Plant operated by Kansai Electric (KEPCO) do not restart [by summer]. He said, "This kind of situation will never materialize again. For the next generation [of people], it is necessary to fully experience what it will be like to live under the decree to restrict the usage of electricity", indicating his willingness to accept such a decree.

関電管内での制限令は１９７４年のオイルショック以来出されていない。

There has been no decree to restrict the usage of electricity within the areas supplied by KEPCO since 1974 oil crisis.

一方、松井一郎大阪府知事は、報道陣に「昨年の計画停電は、経済に大きな影響があった。電力制限を安易に『はい、そうですか』と受け入れるわけにはいかない」と述べた。

On the other hand, Governor of Osaka Ichiro Matsui told the press, "Last year's rolling blackouts severely affected the economy. Restriction of electricity usage cannot be accepted that easily."

滋賀県の嘉田由紀子知事も「必要とあればやむを得ないが、産業界への影響は避けるべきだ」と慎重な姿勢を示した。

Yukiko Kada, Governor of Shiga Prefecture, was also cautious, saying "If it's necessary, then it can't be helped. But the industry should not be affected by it."

So who should be affected? Household users I suppose, with electricity being cut off in the peak mid-day hours during the summer. To save the businesses and the economy. Very Japanese.

In the meantime, the town of Ooi-cho in Fukui Prefecture, where the nuclear power plant is located, is all for the re-start. At least the town assembly is, voting 11 to 1 in favor of the earliest restart. They say the town greatly benefits from the nuclear power plant. I'm sure it does, until it doesn't. Just ask mayors of Futaba-machi and Okuma-machi in Fukushima. The governor of Fukui Prefecture seems to be still holding out for more perks from the national government, and hasn't said yes to the restart.

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