New (2012) Crop of #Fukushima Rice that "Passed" the Test Is On Sale in Tokyo

Sure it passed. The detection limit was 25 becquerels/kg, testing done in 5 to 10 seconds at most using brand-new detectors built specifically for the task of rapidly "measuring" the radioactive cesium in rice grown in Fukushima Prefecture.

Never mind the details like that. Shoppers in Edogawa-ku, Tokyo (itself in the more contaminated section of Tokyo) are happy to snap up this year's fresh crop.

From Nikkei Shinbun quoting Kyodo News (9/1/2012; emphasis is mine):

福島産の新米、東京で販売開始　全袋検査に合格

New crop of Fukushima rice sale started in Tokyo, all bags passed the inspection [for radioactive materials]

福島県でことし収穫された新米の販売が１日、東京都江戸川区のアンテナショップ「ふくしま市場」で始まった。同県では８月から放射性物質の全袋検査を実施しており、合格したコメの県外販売は初めて。

New crop of rice harvested in Fukushima Prefecture this year started on September 1 at "Fukushima Market", a shop to test selling the Fukushima produce in Edogawa-ku, Tokyo. Fukushima Prefecture has started testing all bags of rice for radioactive materials since August, and this was the first sale of the rice that passed the test outside Fukushima.

　店頭には、検査で検出限界値（１キロ当たり25ベクレル）を下回った本宮市産「五百川」と会津坂下町産「瑞穂黄金」の早場米２品種が並べられた。設置された試食コーナーで買い物客が味を確かめ、名産の桃などと一緒に買っていた。

Bags of rice from Motomiya City and from Aizubange-machi, both of which tested below the detection limit (25 becquerels/kg) were put on sale. Shoppers were sampling at a sampling corner of the store, and seen purchasing [the rice] together with the peaches from Fukushima.

　家族４人で訪れていた江戸川区の会社員岡本孝雄さん（45）は震災前からの福島米ファン。「ことしもおいしかった。検査もしているし、何も心配せずに買いました」と話していた。

Mr. Takao Okamoto (age 45), an office worker who lives in Edogawa-ku, was visiting the shop with his family of four. He [said] he had been a fan of Fukushima rice even before the March 11, 2011 disaster. He said, "[The rice] tastes great this year, too. They test the rice, so I bought without any worries at all."

(Poor kids.)

Tweet

Japan's Future Reliance on Nuclear Power: Noda Administration Chooses "15%" Anyway, Despite 90% of 90K Public Comments Wanted "0%"

Farce, charade, tatemae, facade, or you could call it "democracy" as practiced in most of the western world. The foregone conclusion presented as a choice for people, so that people can delude themselves that they have some say in the state affairs. (See my previous post on nearly 90,000 people sending in their opinions, exercising their democratic right, tatemae or not, and how the statisticians dissed the result.)

(By the way, the statisticians (university professors) were probably hired by the private think-tank Mitsubishi Research Institute to whom the government outsourced the analysis of the public comments.)

Jiji Tsushin article makes it very clear what some people have suspected all along - that the government wants to set "15%" as the policy all along. If I remember right, these people were criticized as "cynical" by the fellow Japanese. What can I say.

The Noda administration has the usual lip service to the (naive) citizens: "Zero nukes in the future". What future?

From Jiji Tsushin (9/1/2012):

「将来的に原発ゼロ」＝中間目標３０年に１５％以下－国民に協力要請へ・政府検討

"Zero nuke plants in the future" with intermediate target in 2030 at 15% or less - the government is considering requesting cooperation from Japanese citizens

政府は１日、新たなエネルギー政策について「将来的に原発ゼロを目指す」ことを打ち出す方向で検討に入った。関係閣僚でつくる「エネルギー・環境会議」で９月上旬にも決定し、野田佳彦首相が発表する方針だ。２０３０年の原発比率は１５％以下とし、原発をゼロにするまでの中間目標と位置付けることも検討している。政府関係者が明らかにした。

The national government started the discussion on September 1 over the new national energy policy, which will likely state "[Japan] will aim for zero nuclear power in the future". The "Energy and Environment Conference", made up of the administration's ministers in the related fields, will decide [on the policy] in the early September, and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will announce the new policy. The reliance on nuclear energy in the year 2030 will be 15% or lower, and the government is also considering positioning it as interim target to zero nuclear power. An unnamed government official disclosed [to Jiji Tsushin].

　政府は新エネルギー施策について、３０年の原発比率を１５％とすることを念頭に置いてきた。しかし、７月以降に行った意見聴取会や討論型世論調査で、原発ゼロを求める意見が多かったことから、政府としてゼロを目指す姿勢を示す必要があると判断した。新政策は、エネルギー・環境会議で決める「革新的エネルギー・環境戦略」に盛り込む。これにより、原発依存を高めてきた日本のエネルギー政策は転換点を迎えることになる。

The government has considered all along to set the reliance on the nuclear power in the year 2030 at 15% as the new energy policy. However, as the opinion surveys and focus group surveys in July and August revealed that many people wanted zero nuke plants, the government felt the need to show the attitude of aiming for zero nuke plants. The new policy will be part of the "Innovative Energy and Environmental Stragegy" that will be decided by the "Energy and Environment Conference". It will mark a turning point for the Japan's energy policy which has increased reliance on nuclear energy.

　３０年に原発１５％以下の目標を達成するため、１５年から５年ごとに達成の度合いを検証する方針だ。

In order to achieve 15% reliance or less on nuclear power in 2030, the government will check the progress every 5 years starting 2015.

　新政策では、使用済み核燃料の最終処分や、風力・太陽光など再生可能エネルギーの普及など、原発ゼロに向けたさまざまな課題があることも指摘する。首相が記者会見などで「全国民に協力をお願いする」と呼び掛ける方向だ。

The new policy will also discuss various issues to achieve zero nuclear power, including the final disposal of spent fuel and spread of renewable energy like wind and solar power. The prime minister will use a press conference and other venues to ask for cooperation from every Japanese citizen.

"Innovative Energy and Environmental Stragegy" that will be decided by the "Energy and Environment Conference". Doesn't that sound wonderful, like in former Soviet Union planning?

Renewable energy? There is hardly any renewable energy source to meaningfully contribute to the power grid, but no shortage of energy anywhere in Japan. As to nuclear energy, only two reactors are currently in use (despite jellyfish), and Kansai hasn't had a single blackout. So? What kind of "cooperation" does Mr. Noda want?

More tax, I suppose, so that he has money to pay the bills come October.

Or to give big corporations big "wind" and/or "solar" projects, whether there are needs for them or not, and make citizens/residents foot the bill through subsidies and taxes.

Tweet

DPJ Leaders Urge Goshi Hosono to Run for DPJ Leadership Election (=Automatically, the Next Prime Minister of Japan)

Here you go, international fans of Goshi Hosono, Prime Minister-in-waiting ...

From Mainichi Shinbun via Yahoo Japan News (8/31/2012):

＜民主代表選＞細野環境相に出馬を打診　輿石氏ら

Democratic Party of Japan Leadership Election: Koshiishi et al urges Minister of the Environment Hosono to run

民主党の輿石東幹事長や樽床伸二幹事長代行、細野豪志環境相、松本剛明前外相ら衆参の国会議員７人が３１日夜、東京都内の飲食店で会談した。民主党代表選（９月２１日投票）を巡って意見交換し、細野、樽床、松本の３氏の中から野田佳彦首相（党代表）への対抗馬を擁立することが必要との認識で一致した。「選挙の顔」として党内に待望論がある細野氏に出馬を促したとみられる。出席者によると、輿石氏は明確な意見を言わなかった。

Seven DPJ politicians of both Upper and Lower Houses, including Azuma Koshiishi (Secretary-General of the DPJ), Shinji Tarutoko (Acting Secretary-General of the DPJ), Goshi Hosono (Minister of the Environment), and Takeaki Matsumoto (former Foreign Minister) met at a restaurant in Tokyo in the evening of August 31. They exchanged views over the DPJ leadership election (on September 21), and agreed that it was necessary to support one of the three - Hosono, Tarutoko, Matsumoto - as a rival candidate against Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. It is thought that they urged Mr. Hosono to run, as he is being touted within the party as the "[Party's] Face in the [General] Election" and as Prime Minister-in-waiting. According to those who attended, Mr. Koshiishi didn't make his opinion clear.

代表選をめぐっては首相への対立候補擁立を模索する動きが活発化しているが、細野氏は原発災害の被災地対策に全力を挙げる考えを示している。

Over the leadership election, there have been active movements recently to support rival candidates against the prime minister. Mr. Hosono has said that he will give his best in helping the areas affected by the nuclear disaster.

If these people think Mr. Hosono as the prime minister will win them the general election, they must be from one of the dark, distant, outer planets or asteroids of the solar system.

I still remember the DPJ leadership election from last year, after Prime Minister Naoto Kan finally agreed to actually step down. Banri Kaieda (backed by Ichiro Ozawa) and Yoshihiko Noda went to the 2nd round. In between the first and the second rounds, NHK casually informed the viewers (NHK was live broadcasting from the election) that one of the candidates eliminated in the 1st round would throw his support behind Noda. That was a total fabrication, but it may have tipped enough undecided DPJ politicians to vote with the winner (a la NHK). Mr. Noda became the surprise winner. He continues to surprise (in a bad way) to this day.

Tweet

#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: TEPCO Still Doesn't Know Why the Amount of Water into RPVs Dropped Suddenly

but TEPCO's Matsumoto says they flushed the pipes and will see what happens.

For the initial report on the subject, go to my previous post.

Update from Kyodo News (8/31/2012):

福島第１原発の配管に異物混入か　注水量低下問題

Amount of water into the reactors at Fukushima I Nuke Plant dropping - foreign objects clogging up the pipes?

　東京電力は３１日、福島第１原発１～３号機の原子炉への注水量が保安規定に定められた量を一時的に下回った問題で、配管内部に異物が混入して詰まった可能性があるとして、水の量を一時的に増やして洗い流す作業を実施したと発表した。注水量が回復するか見極めた上で、もう一度実施するか決める。

After the amount of water being injected into Reactors 1, 2, and 3's Reactor Pressure Vessels at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant had temporarily dropped below the level specified in the safety regulations, TEPCO announced on August 31 that the company flushed the pipes by temporarily increasing the amount of water as it was possible that foreign objects had clogged up the pipes. TEPCO will wait and see if the amount of water injected into the RPVs recovers before deciding whether the second flushing is necessary.

　配管からの漏えいや、水を送るポンプに異常が見られないことから、東電は配管内部で流量を調整する弁にごみなどが付着し、水の流れを妨げている可能性があるとみている。

Since there is no leak from the pipe and the pumps are working normally, TEPCO thinks that the valves that control and adjust the flow of water inside the pipes are clogged up, preventing the flow.

　東電の松本純一原子力・立地本部長代理は「何が原因か絞り込む決め手はなく、流量が回復するかは未知数だ」としている。

According to TEPCO's Junichi Matsumoto, "There is no conclusive evidence to narrow down the possible causes, and it is unknown whether the flow will recover."

TEPCO is an incurious bunch, but then, it is an utility company who only knew how to run a functioning nuclear power plant. People who hastily rigged up the water treatment/injection system at Fukushima I Nuke Plant are from the 1st-tier contractors (Toshiba, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Kajima, Kandenko, etc.), but they are not talking.

The national government has effectively taken over the company, but so far has done nothing when it comes to dealing with the plant.

Tweet

Friday Protests at 90+ Locations in 44 Prefectures Throughout Japan Today (August 31, 2012)

This tweet says "92 protests in 44 prefectures throughout Japan", with the link to a site that lists them all. Most will likely be small, but who cares.

I took a look at IWJ's Aomori1 channel. A middle-aged man is making a speech on a street corner. People keep passing by. There are a few others who are with him. So? I'm watching. So are 34 others somewhere in the world.

Yasumi Iwakami's IWJ staff/volunteers will be at many of these locations to netcast live. If they are not there, someone else will use his/her smartphone and do it, I'm sure.

From IWJ's website (original is in Japanese):

▲▽▲▽　Protest at PM Official Residence, Friday August 31, 2012 ▽▲▽▲
6PM〜 8.31 Urgent! Stop Ooi Nuke Plant! Protest at PM Official Residence
CH5 1st Stage ＣＨ６ 2nd Stage　ＣＨ７ in front of the DPJ HQ

▼ＣＨ８ 6PM Protest at US Embassy　▼ＣＨ８ 7PM Protest at the backside of PM Official Residence 　▼ＣＨ８ 8PM Protest in front of LDP HQ 　▼ＣＨ９ 5PM Save Children from nuclear war! Protest over Fukushima children evacuation lawsuit in front of Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance　▼ＣＨ９ 6:30PM No! to "Nuclear Village" appointment! Minister Hosono should abandon the appointment! 　▼ＣＨ５＋ＣＨ６ 8:15PM ８・３１No! to "Nuclear Village" appointment! Human chain in front of the soon-to-be Nuclear Regulatory Commission 　▼Aomori1 5PM Friday action in front of Aomori Station 　▼Iwate1 6:15PM Beyond Nuclear Friday Demonstration in Morioka 　▼Fukushima1 6PM Follow the Friday Protest in Tokyo! No Nuclear Friday in Koriyama 　▼Ibaraki1 6PM 5th Protest in front of Japan Atomic Power Co. Ibaraki Office 　▼Gunma1 6:30PM Friday Protest against nuke plant restart at Takasaki Station West Exit　▼Saitama1 6PM Citizens' parade for zero nuke 　▼Chiba1 5:30PM 2nd demonstration in Sodegaura City for decommissioning all nuke plants　▼Ishikawa1 6:30PM No Nuke Protest No.9 　▼Gifu1 6PM Beyond nuclear Gifu citizens 　▼Aichi1 6PM Stop Ooi Nuke Plant immediately! Protest in front of KEPCO Tokai Branch 　▼Osaka1 6:30PM August 31 anti-nuke protest @KEPCO HQ 　▼Hyogo1 6PM Occypy in the Blue Moon 8.31 @KEPCO Kobe Branch

Oh yes, Friday's full moon is a blue moon.

Tweet

Boy-Wonder Mayor of Osaka City Tells Citizens: "I Don't Need to Listen to You!" on Disaster Debris Burning in the City

He (the right one in the photo) will make an excellent successor to Prime Minister Noda, I can tell right now.

(The man on the left is the boy-wonder's sidekick, governor of Osaka.)

The same boy-wonder said he would like to have the younger generation to experience rolling blackout, right before he flipped (yet again) to pro-nuclear and pro-restart of Ooi Nuclear Power Plant.

Now that Ooi has restarted, he is flipped (again) to "anti-nuclear" because that's what will get him and his party the votes in the coming national election.

The dictatorial boy-wonder mayor of Osaka held the first and the last (or so he intends) meeting to explain things to unruly residents of Osaka City that they will have to accept potential radiation contamination from the disaster debris burning because... because... he says so. I don't think Osaka residents take this meekly.

From Mainichi Shinbun (8/31/2012):

大阪市は３０日、東日本大震災で発生した災害廃棄物（がれき）の受け入れに関して、市中央公会堂（同市北区）で市民向けの説明会を開いた。反対する市民らの怒号で会場が騒然とする中、橋下徹市長が安全性を強調し、受け入れへの理解を求めた。

Osaka City held a townhall meeting for the city's residents on August 30 at the central city hall (in Kita-ku, Osaka) to explain about the acceptance of disaster debris from the March 11, 2011 disaster. In the contentious meeting with angry residents opposing the plan shouting, Mayor Toru Hashimoto emphasized the safety and asked for understanding.

市は６〜７月、がれきを埋め立てる此花区で区民限定の説明会を３回開いたが、全市民対象は初めて。約４２０人が出席した。

The city held three meetings in June and July only for residents in Konohana-ku, where the disaster debris will be [burned and] buried. But the August 30 meeting was the first for all residents in the city. About 420 residents attended the meeting.

市の担当者らが「日常で浴びる放射線量より低い」と強調したが、会場の内外で反対派の市民らが「放射能はいらない」「橋下やめろ」などと叫び、緊迫した雰囲気に包まれた。橋下市長はいらだちを隠せない様子で「皆さんの意見で市の方針を決めるのではない」「あなたたちの何倍もの市民が賛成している」などと述べた。数人の男性が壇上に詰め寄り、警察官らに制止される場面もあった。

In the meeting, city officials emphasized that the radiation exposure [from burning disaster debris] would be lower than that of background radiation exposure, but people opposing the acceptance of the debris inside and outside the hall shouted "We don't want radiation", "Hashimoto, resign", in a tense exchange. Mayor Hashimoto, unable to hide his irritation, said, "The city policy is not decided by your opinions", "Citizens several times more than you here are in favor". At one point, several men rushed toward the mayor on the podium, and were stopped by the policemen.

同市中央区の主婦（５９）は「納得できる説明はなかった。結論ありきで、なぜ説明会を開いたか分からない」と興奮気味に話した。

A housewife (age 59) from Chuo-ku in Osaka City said excitedly, "They didn't explain to my satisfaction. It's a foregone conclusion, and I don't know why they bothered to hold a meeting."

市は１１月に試験焼却し、来年２月に岩手県から受け入れを始める計画。今年度は約６１００トン、来年度は約３万トンを処理する予定。

The city plans to conduct the test burn in November, and start accepting the debris from Iwate Prefecture in February next year. In the current fiscal year [that ends in March 31, 2013], about 6,100 tonnes will be disposed [burned and buried], and 30,000 tonnes will be disposed in the fiscal 2013.

I hear from Osaka City residents that umbrellas and bottled water were banned from the meeting.

Mayor Hashimoto scurried off from the stage after the incident, according to the media reports. Osaka residents on Twitter say they are not surprised at the mayor's behavior.

The prefectural government in Iwate freely admits that they can totally take care of the debris within Iwate, but since Osaka City insists, they cannot say no. I don't quite understand why not.

Konohana-ku has a landfill that features a huge incineration plant designed by a famous Austrian anti-nuclear architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. If he were alive, I wonder what he would think; whether he'd be happy with the prospect of disaster debris that has been contaminated with radioactive materials out of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant being burned at the plant he designed.

I still remember the angry residents of Kyoto City in front of the JR Kyoto Station, shouting down Goshi Hosono, "Go back! Go Back to where you belong!", when Mr. Hosono and his entourage tried to convince what a wonderful thing it would be to help Tohoku people if only Kyoto residents allowed the burning of the debris in their midst.

I hope Osaka people will outdo the Kyoto residents.

Tweet

#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: New Fuel Assembly Taken From SFP in Reactor 4 Had Pebbles in It

They look like aggregates in concrete. How did they get inside the channel box?

Inspection was carried out in the Spent Fuel Common Pool building.

From TEPCO's Photos and Videos Library, August 28, 2012 "Soundness Investigation of the Unused (Unirradiated) Fuel Removed from Unit 4 Spent Fuel Pool at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station":

(Click to enlarge.)

Tweet

#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Amount of Water Being Injected into RPVs Temporarily Dropped Below Necessary Amount, Cause Unknown

The amount of treated water being constantly injected into the Reactor Pressure Vessels of Reactors 1, 2 and 3 has fluctuated often for no reason that TEPCO cares to identify, but on August 30 that amount temporarily dropped below the levels specified by the NISA's safety regulations.

Cause is still unknown, but unlike in the past, TEPCO's Matsumoto says the company will conduct investigation to identify the cause.

If you want to check the temperature readings of the RPVs, here's TEPCO's page (English).

From Kyodo News (8/31/2012):

福島１～３号機注水量が一時低下　第１原発

Amount of water injected into Reactors 1 through 3 at Fukushima I Nuke Plant dropped temporarily

東京電力は３０日、福島第１原発１～３号機の原子炉への注水が、保安規定に定められた冷却に必要な量より一時低下したと発表した。同日午後に注水量が下がり、バルブ操作で一度回復したが、夜になって再び下がった。同日午後１０時半時点では必要量は確保できている。

TEPCO announced on August 30 that the amount of water injected into the Reactors 1, 2 and 3 at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant temporarily dropped below the amount specified in the safety regulation as the amount necessary for cooling the reactors. The amount dropped in the afternoon of August 30, and though it recovered after adjusting the valves [that control the flow] it dropped again in the evening. As of 10:30PM on August 30, the amount necessary for cooling is maintained.

　原子炉圧力容器の温度に変化はない。２台ある注水用ポンプの異常の可能性もあることから、予備ポンプを起動して、原因を調べる。

There are no changes in temperature of the Reactor Pressure Vessels. It is possible that the water injection pumps (there are two) have some problems, and TEPCO will start the backup pump[s] to investigate the cause.

　東電によると、同日午後３時に注水量を監視していた社員が低下に気付いた。１号機には毎時４・９トン、２、３号機には７・０トンを注水していたが、１号機は４・０トン、２号機は５・５トン、３号機は５・６トンに低下していた。原子炉の冷却に最低限必要な量を０・３～０・６トン下回った。バルブの調整で水量を増加させ、間もなく回復した。

According to TEPCO, an employee who was watching the amount of water injected noticed the drop at 3PM on August 30. Normally, 4.9 tonnes/hour of water is injected into Reactor 1, and 7.0 tonnes/hour of water into Reactors 2 and 3. However, [at 3PM on August 30], the amount for Reactor 1 dropped to 4.0 tonnes/hour, for Reactor 2 to 5.5 tonnes/hour, and for Reactor 3 to 5.6 tonnes, which were below the minimum necessary amount [as specified in the safety regulations] to cool the reactors by 0.3 to 0.6 tonnes[/hour]. TEPCO adjusted the valves to bring the amount back up to the normal levels.

　その後、注水量は不安定な状態で、午後８時に再び必要注水量を下回った。バルブ操作で午後１０時半ごろまでに回復した。

However, the amount of water being injected continued to fluctuate, and at 8PM it dropped below the required amount again. It recovered by 10:30PM after valve adjustment.

　１～３号機の注水はこれまでも低下したことがあり、その都度、バルブを微調整して流量を確保していたが、必要量を下回ったのは初めて。漏えいなどは確認されていないという。

The amount of water into Reactors 1, 2 and 3 has dropped in the past. In each occasion, TEPCO adjusted the valves to maintain the flow. But it was the first time on August 30 that the amount dropped below the required amount. TEPCO says no leaks have been found.

　東電の松本純一原子力・立地本部長代理は「冷却に一番大事なシステムで、注水量が極端に下がった原因を慎重に調べたい」と話している。

TEPCO's Junichi Matsumoto says, "It is the most important system for cooling the reactors, and we would like to carefully investigate the cause of sudden drop in the amount of water."

Tweet

#Radioactive Japan: Head of The Ecosystem Conservation Society of Japan Says "People in Fukushima, Part of Kanto Including Tokyo, Should Not Marry" Because of Radiation Exposure

At a gathering of politicians from prefectural and municipal governments in Japan, the veterinarian head of a non-profit organization called "Ecosystem Conservation Society of Japan" told the audience, quite off-handedly,

People in Fukushima, Tochigi, Saitama, Tokyo, Kanagawa where the radioactive plume went by, should not marry because the deformity rate of their offspring will skyrocket.

To the outraged delegation from Fukushima City, he says,

Tough. They misquoted me on purpose, I was just talking generalities.

Generalities. So these days in Japan, citing specific locales and predicting specific events like deformity of babies is talking generalities.

So far, only the delegation from Fukushima City is outraged. The reactions from the rest of Japan are two types:

1. Oh someone finally spoke the truth, and he is the head of some non-profit organization (that must mean his intentions are good), so we should take it seriously; or

2. (Silence)

From Asahi Shinbun (8/29/2012; part):

福島市議会の佐藤一好議員らは２９日、記者会見し、公益財団法人・日本生態系協会の池谷奉文会長が東京電力福島第一原発事故の影響について話した７月の講演で「不適切な差別発言をし、容認できない」として、訂正を要求することを明らかにした。

Fukushima City Assemblymen including Mr. Kazuyoshi Sato held a press conference on August 29, and announced that they would demand the correction of the remark by Mr. Hobun Ikeya, head of a public interest incorporated foundation called "Ecosystem Conservation Society of Japan" during the lecture in July on the effect of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident as "inappropriate and discriminatory, and cannot be tolerated".

佐藤市議らによると、池谷会長は講演で「福島の人とは結婚しない方がいい」「福島では発がん率が上がり、奇形児が生まれる懸念がある」と述べたという。

According to Assemblyman Sato and others, Mr. Ikeha said in the lecture, "You'd better not marry anyone from Fukushima", and "Cancer rate may rise in Fukushima, and deformed babies may be born".

協会側の説明や記者が確認した録音によると、池谷会長は、福島のほか原発事故で一定の放射能汚染を受けた関東地方の県名をあげ、地域の地図を示しながら「放射能雲の通った地域にいた方々は極力結婚しない方がいいだろう」と発言。「結婚して子どもを産むと、奇形発生率がドーンと上がる」などと話した。

According to the explanation by the Society and the recording that our reporter listened to, Mr. Ikeya also mentioned several prefectures in Kanto region that have had certain levels of radiation contamination because of the nuclear accident. He pointed out to the map of the region, and said, "People who live in the areas where the radioactive plume went by should avoid marrying at all costs." He further said "If they marry and have children, the rate of deformity in babies will skyrocket."

池谷会長は朝日新聞の取材に、「被曝（ひばく）で遺伝子損傷と奇形児出産のリスクが高まることを訴えた」と説明。「一般論として私の見解を話した。差別する意図はなかった」と話した。

Mr. Ikeya responded to Asahi Shinbun and explained, "I wanted to emphasize the heightened risk of DNA damage and deformed babies due to radiation exposure. I discussed generalities, and had no intention of discrimination."

講演は同協会が主催し、７月９日に東京で開催。全国の自治体議員らが参加し、福島市議会からは佐藤氏ら４市議が参加した。

The lecture was sponsored by the Ecosystem Conservation Society of Japan and held in Tokyo on July 9. Assemblypersons from municipalities throughout Japan participated, and four assemblymen including Mr. Sato from the Fukushima City Assembly participated.

More from Fukushima Minpo (8/30/2012; part):

日本生態系協会の池谷奉文会長（７０）が東京で開かれた講演会で、東京電力福島第一原発事故を受け「福島の人とは結婚しない方がいい」などと不適切な発言をしたとされる問題で、池谷会長は２９日、報道機関に対して講演記録の一部を公表した。

Regarding the remarks that have been condemned as inappropriate by Mr. Hobun Ikeya (age 70) of the Ecosystem Conservation Society of Japan in a lecture in Tokyo, Mr. Ikeya released part of the transcript of the lecture to the press on August 29.

文書には「福島ばかりじゃございませんで栃木だとか、埼玉、東京、神奈川あたり、あそこにいた方々はこれから極力、結婚をしない方がいいだろう」「結婚をして子どもを産むとですね、奇形発生率がどーんと上がることになる」とある。

According to the transcript, he said, "It's not just Fukushima, you know, people in Tochigi, Saitama, Tokyo, Kanagawa, people who were there should not marry at all costs", and "If they get married and have children, the rate of deformity in babies will skyrocket."

協会によると、録音を書き起こした内容で、県内の各報道機関に送った。

According to the Society, the document is a transcript from the recording, and it has been sent to news organizations in Fukushima Prefecture.

福島民報社の取材に対し、池谷会長は発言内容を認めた上で「福島の人を差別するようなことは思っていない」と反論。これまでの取材に一貫して「発言していない」としていたことについては「差別発言ではないという意味だ」と答えた。

To Fukushima Minpo, Mr. Ikeya admitted that he had made these remarks, and argued, "I don't think it's discriminatory against people in Fukushima." As to his insistence in the past that he hadn't said anything like that, he answered, "I meant I hadn't said anything discriminatory."

池谷会長は現職の獣医師。「政策塾」は平成１５年から年一回ほどのペースで開き、今回が１２回目。毎回８０人から１００人程度の地方議員や議員を目指す市民らが参加しているという。昨年は東日本大震災の影響で中止となり、今回が震災後初の講演だった。

Mr. Ikeya is a practicing veterinarian. The "Policy" lecture has been given once a year or so since 2003, and it was the 12th this year. 80 to 100 politicians from municipalities and citizens who aspire to become politicians participate. Last year's lecture was canceled due to the March 11 disaster, and this year's lecture was the first since the disaster.

Accusation that Mr. Ikeya is discriminating against Fukushima is not really true, as Mr. Ikeya is saying the same for four other prefectures in Kanto.

Well at least Mr. Ikeya is a veterinarian, remotely qualified (I suppose) to comment on something medical. The only (human) medical experts who expressed outrage are so-called "government experts" (including Professor Noboru Takamura of Nagasaki University and Fukushima Prefecture Radiation Health Risk Management Advisor who spoke soothing words to Iitate-mura villagers right after the accident, and Professor Masahiro Fukushi of Tokyo Metropolitan University who measured radiation levels in meals with faulty germanium semiconductor detector for NHK program), which is taken by many net citizens on Twitter to mean Mr. Ikeya must be telling the truth.

Never mind that Mr. Ikeya's expertise is with sick animals.

The Japanese government and government institutions and its experts have only themselves to blame for the deep distrust of anything that has to do with the government for an off-hand remark by a veterinarian to be taken seriously as the truth.

Tweet

FOX News: Bolivian Police Seize 2 Tons of Uranium

From FOX News Latino (8/29/2012):

Bolivian police on Tuesday confiscated two tons of uranium that was being stored at a building in central La Paz located near the U.S. and Spanish embassies.

Four people, all of them Bolivian nationals, were arrested while they were transferring the uranium from one vehicle to another, Deputy Interior Minister Jorge Perez said.

The radioactive material was in sacks of jute and nylon, he said.

Since Bolivia does not produce uranium, Perez said, authorities assume the consignment originated in either of two neighboring countries that do: Brazil or Chile.

The commander of the elite police unit that carried out the operation, Col. Eddy Torrez, said the seizure was the fruit of a six-week investigation.

Police pounced when they learned the people in possession of the uranium planned to meet Tuesday with a potential buyer, the colonel said.

Perez said one of the people arrested is an engineer who told police he was holding the uranium for other people, but provided no information on the owners of the cache.

Tweet

#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Safety Equipment (Rupture Disk) Delayed the Vent, According to TEPCO's Teleconference Video

The Japanese media (members of Japan Press Club) can still view the video of TEPCO's teleconferences in the early days of the nuclear accident that TEPCO was willing to disclose (about 50 hours worth of video), and here's the latest from Tokyo Shinbun.

According to the newspaper, one of the reasons why TEPCO workers couldn't inject water to cool the reactor core, or open the vent line to release the pressure inside the Reactor Pressure Vessels in Reactors 2 and 3 much sooner was because the rupture disks didn't break because the set pressure was too high.

Why was the set pressure too high? Because the Japanese engineers were afraid of radioactive leak from the Primary Containment Vessels and wanted avoid the leak at all costs, says the paper quoting a nuclear researcher.

Much like TEPCO allegedly welded shut the blowout panels in each reactor building at Fukushima I Nuke Plant, except for Reactor 2.

From Tokyo Shinbun (8/29/2012):

福島第一事故　安全装置　ベント妨げる

Safety equipment prevented the vent in the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident

昨年三月の東京電力福島第一原発事故で、早い段階で原子炉への注水に向け、ベント（排気）をしようとしたのに、配管の途中にある安全装置の設計が悪く、対応が遅れる大きな原因になっていたことが、東電の社内テレビ会議映像から分かった。放射能を閉じ込めるための安全装置が、逆に事故を深刻化させていたことになる。

It was found in the teleconference video of TEPCO that the bad design of the safety equipment installed along the vent pipe delayed the response when they tried to vent in order to inject water into the reactors in the early stage of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident in March last year. It can be said that the safety equipment designed to contain radiation ended up worsening the accident.

事故では、２、３号機とも高圧で注水する装置が使えなくなり、消防車などで注水しようとしたが、原子炉（圧力容器）の圧力が高く難航した。

During the accident, the equipment to inject water at a high pressure failed in both Reactor 2 and Reactor 3. TEPCO tried to inject water using fire engines, but had difficulty doing so due to high pressure inside the reactor (Pressure Vessel).

炉の圧力を下げるには、格納容器に蒸気を逃がす弁（ＳＲ弁）を開け、合わせてベントをする必要がある。だが、ベント配管の途中に設置されている「ラプチャーディスク（破裂板）」と呼ばれるステンレスの円板が、ベントの障害となった。

In order to lower the pressure, they needed to open the SR valve to release [the pressure inside the Reactor Pressure Vessel) into the Containment Vessel, and at the same time do the vent. However, the rupture disk - a stainless-steel disk installed in the vent pipe - hindered the vent.

ディスクは、配管にふたをする役目をしており、一定の圧力がかからないと破れない仕組み。誤ってベント弁を開けてしまっても、放射性物質が外部に漏れ出さないようにするのが目的だ。

The rupture disk plugs the pipe, and it is designed not to break unless it is under certain pressure. The purpose is to prevent the leak of radioactive materials when the vent valve is accidentally opened.

しかし、ディスクの設定圧力が高すぎ、早く炉の減圧とベントをして一刻も早く注水をしたいのに、なかなかディスクが破れず対応が遅れ、その間にも核燃料が過熱していく悪循環を起こした。

However, the disk's set pressure was too high, and even when they wanted to lower the reactor pressure and vent so that they could inject water as soon as possible, the disk didn't break, delaying the response and causing the overheating of the nuclear fuel.

テレビ会議の映像には、「ベント前に炉心損傷ということになっちゃう」（十三日午前五時すぎ、３号機への対応で）、「ラプチャーが開くのを待っているところ」（十四日午後十時ごろ、２号機への対応で）など、もどかしい現場の様子が何度も出てくる。

The teleconferencing video shows the frustrated staff at the plant. "Reactor core may be damaged before the vent can be done" (5AM on March 13, regarding Reactor 3), and "We're waiting for the rupture disk to open" (10PM on March 14, regarding Reactor 2).

東電の宮田浩一・原子力安全グループマネジャーは「ベントをしたいと思った時にできなかったことが最もつらい状況だった」と振り返る。

Koichi Miyata, Manager of TEPCO Nuclear Safety Group, reflects, "The hardest time was when we couldn't vent when we wanted to."

経済産業省原子力安全・保安院は事故の反省を踏まえ、ディスクがベントの妨げにならないよう見直すべきだとの考えで、原子力規制委員会に対応を引き継ぐ見通しだ。

As one of the lessons learned from the accident, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is of the opinion that a revision is necessary so that the rupture disk doesn't get in the way of venting. The agency is to ask the [soon-to-be-created] Nuclear Regulatory Commission to devise countermeasures.

北海道大の奈良林直教授（原子力工学）は「欧州ではディスクを迂回（うかい）するルートを設け割れなくてもベントをできるようにしている国もある。日本はこれまで『格納容器から漏らさない』との呪縛にとらわれており、それが設計にも反映されていた」と話している。

Professor Tadashi Narabayashi of Hokkaido University (nuclear engineering) says, "Some European countries have systems to bypass the rupture disks so that the vent can be carried out even when the rupture disks don't break. So far, Japan has been caught in the trap of "no leak [of radioactive materials] from the Containment Vessel", which is reflected in the design".

According to the report by the Fukushima Accident Independent Investigation Commission set up by the Cabinet Office, the set pressure of the rupture disk was "0.528MPa　abs" for Reactor 2.

The same NISA and Professor Narabayashi (one of the three "Plutonium Brothers") were last heard together in December last year, when NISA officials admitted to the possibility that the very act of venting may have caused the hydrogen explosions in Reactor 1 and Reactor 3.

Further, a Tokyo University researcher (Katsumi Shozugawa) indicated in his paper (link is in Japanese; see the chart in the post) published earlier this year (online in January, published in paper in April) that it may have been the dry vent (= vent directly from the Containment Vessel, without going through the Suppression Chamber) of Reactor 2 on March 15 that released the huge amount of radioactive materials in the surrounding environment, not the explosions of Reactors 1 and 3.

Several days ago, Professor Yukio Hayakawa, speaking in front of a study group of politicians, also said that TEPCO did the vent, and NISA allowed the vent, on March 15, 2011, when it was obvious to them the wind was from the north, blowing toward Tokyo. Professor Hayakawa continued, "Was the vent necessary at that time? I don't know, as I'm not a nuclear engineer. But if the contamination is from the vent, this is a man-made contamination." (Video of the meeting is here, if you understand Japanese.)

To be sure, the wide-area contamination of Kanto region is supposed to have happened on March 20 - 22, 2011, with the rain.　At that time, Reactor 3 building was smouldering, uncontrolled, white smoke then black smoke seen issuing from the wrecked operating floor. But if Reactor 3 building exploded because of the vent, the possibility of which NISA admits, it would be indeed man-made contamination as Hayakawa says.

Tweet

NISA's New Safety Standard May Allow Nuclear Reactors on Top of Active Faults to Continue Operation

(No, this is not an April Fool's Day's joke.)

Totally, absolutely in line with Prime Minister Noda's intention of seeking the "fourth way" for the future energy policy on reliance on nuclear power, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (which is still the one and only regulatory agency over the nuclear industry in Japan) is now considering installing a new safety standard:

You can continue to operate a nuclear reactor even if the reactor happens to sit on top of an active fault, as long as the expected size of dislocation is small enough.

This Kyodo News has the largest number of retweets I've seen on the websites of the Japanese mainstream media, currently with 9,015 retweets.

From Kyodo News (8/28/2012):

原発直下に地盤をずらす「断層」があっても原発の運転を一律に禁止せず、継続の可能性を残す新たな安全評価基準の導入を、経済産業省原子力安全・保安院が検討していることが２８日、分かった。

It was revealed on August 28 that the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry was considering the introduction of a new safety evaluation standard that would leave a possibility of continued operation of a nuclear reactor even when the reactor sits on top of a fault that could shift the ground, instead of uniformly banning the operation of such reactors.

　保安院は従来「活断層の真上に原子炉を建ててはならない」との見解を示していた。新基準では、これまでは活断層と判断される可能性があった一部の断層について原発の直下にあっても、ずれの量が小さく原子炉建屋などに影響が生じないと評価されれば原発の運転継続も可能になるとみられる。

So far, the NISA's opinion has been that "a nuclear reactor cannot be built on top of an active fault". Under the [proposed] new standard, it is expected that the continued operation will become possible for reactors that sit on top of certain faults which may be active faults, as long as the shifting of the ground is small enough and there is no effect on the reactor buildings.

　だが「ずれの量の正確な評価手法はまだ完全ではない」（保安院）など課題も多い。

There are many issues still to be resolved, as NISA admits that the method to precisely evaluate the size of the shifting is not yet perfect.

In the meantime, the prime minister who seeks the "fourth way" further elaborated on his stance. According to Jiji Tsushin (8/28/2012), Mr. Noda had a casual dinner in Tokyo with the DPJ's newbies (and apparently open to the press), where he told them and the press that he couldn't commit easily to "zero nuclear" because of national security concerns.

Tweet

Elderly Evacuees from Futaba-machi Living in School Bldg in Saitama Will Be Made to Pay for Their Boxed Meals, Starting September 1st

What a country. Wonder of the Orient.

Just remember that this country (Japan) is still the third largest economy in the world. But after more than 17 months since the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear accident, hardly anyone cares that these people are still living in school classrooms. It's worse than not caring, because now they will charge for the bento (meal in a box), which will cost these elderly residents 30,000 to 40,000 yen per person per month (US$381 to 508 per person per month).

Where do they have such money? No one cares. The evacuees from the same town, Futaba-machi, who have moved to temporary housing and other rental properties, have complained that they are not getting free meals, so everyone gotta pay, to be fair.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (8/24/2012):

自活町民と溝で…双葉町避難所の弁当有料化へ

Due to conflict with the Futaba-machi residents living on their own, evacuees at the Futaba-machi shelter [in Saitama] will have to pay for their bento (meal in a box)

東京電力福島第一原発事故で福島県双葉町の住民と役場機能が避難する埼玉県加須市の旧県立騎西高校で、９月から始まる弁当支給の有料化。

Starting September, the evacuees staying in the school building of former Kisai High School in Kazo City in Saitama Prefecture will have to pay for the bento meals that they receive.

町がこの対応を決めた背景には、既に同高校などの避難所を出て生活する他の住民の、食費負担の公平化を求める強い声があった。だが、同高校に残る住民の、有料化に対する反発も根強い。町民の間に生まれた溝は、自立や復興に向けた支援も行き届かないまま、避難所が１年半近くもの長期にわたり開設されていることが招いたとも言えそうだ。

The reason why the town has decided to charge for bento was the strong demand for equality from the town residents who have already left the school building and live on their own. However, the residents who still remain in the school building are resentful of the new charge. The conflict between the residents could be the result of the extended stay in the shelter for nearly one and a half year, with inadequate support for self-reliance and recovery.

同高校は、東日本大震災で開設され、現在ただ一つ残る公設避難所。約２１０人の住民が暮らし、食事は災害救助法に基づき、弁当が無償提供されている。

The Kisai High School shelter is the last remaining public shelter opened after the March 11, 2011 disaster. About 210 residents live there, and bento meals are provided free of charge under the Disaster Relief Act.

これについては、仮設や借り上げ住宅に移って自活する町民から「特別扱いだ」との批判がくすぶっていた。

[About these free meals,] there has been a silent resentment against this "special treatment" from the town's residents who have moved to temporary housing and rental houses and live on their own [and who have to pay for their own food].

９月１日からは、加須市内の弁当業者が同高校内で、弁当を３食計１１００円～１２５０円で販売する。１人あたり、毎月３万～４万円程度の負担になる計算だ。

Starting September 1, a bento distributor in Kazu City will sell bento meals for 1,100 to 1,250 yen [US$14 to 16] per three meals per day. It will cost 30,000 to 40,000 yen [US$381 to 508] per person per month.

２１日夜には同高校の町民約７０人が集まり、意見を交わした。参加した町民によると、ほとんどが有料化に反対で、「弁当代が払えないなら、『死ね』ということなのか」と嘆く高齢男性もいたという。実際、同高校で暮らす過半数は６５歳以上の高齢者で、要介護者もいる。

On the night of August 21, about 70 evacuees at the school gathered together talked. According to people who participated, most were against paying for the meals. There was an elderly man who lamented, "So, if I cannot pay for the bento, that means they are telling me to just die." In fact, most of the evacuees who remain in the shelter are over 65 years old, and some need medical assistance.

だが、一方で、同高校の町民から「避難所にどっぷりつかったままでいるわけにいかない」という声も聞かれる。厚生労働省によると、町が弁当を有料に切り替えても、同高校の避難所としての位置付けが変わることはないが、災害救助法による避難所の開設期間は原則７日以内。間もなく１年５か月となる同高校は、想定を大きく超えてしまっている。

On the other hand, there are residents at the shelter who say "We cannot go on living like this." According to the Ministry of Health and Labor, the school remains a public shelter even after the town starts to charge for bento meals. Under the Disaster Relief Act, emergency shelters are to be opened for 7 days. It will be 1 year and 5 months since the shelter was opened at the school, well beyond the initial expectation.

同省の担当者は「いつまでも避難所生活でいいとは思っていない。町民が安心して暮らせる住宅や施設に移れるよう、福島県などとも相談したい」としている。

The Ministry official says, "We don't think it's right to have these people in the shelter for such a long time. We would like to consult with Fukushima Prefecture so that the residents can move to houses and facilities where they can live comfortably."

This is a country where they charge the workers in Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant for their meals. So charging the old residents who have nowhere else to go for their meager bento boxes to achieve fairness is just what you expect.

Tweet

Japanese Government's Energy Policy (Reliance on Nuclear Power in 2030) May Go the "Fourth Way", Not Even Presented to the Citizens in Opinion Surveys

What a joke. Totally predictable but joke nonetheless.

Remember my post about nearly 90,000 public comments from the Japanese citizens and residents about the future energy policy of the Japanese government, where nearly 90% want "zero nuclear"? Also remember the so-called experts in big-name universities whose expertise is in polling and sampling stressing the "quality" over "quantity"? There were three choices that people could comment on: 0% reliance on nuclear power by 2030, 15% reliance, or 25% reliance.

Now, drum rolls please. Here comes your national government under Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda declaring that the government may opt for the "fourth way".

From FNN News (via Yahoo Japan, meaning the link won't last; 8/27/2012):

原発依存度など、将来のエネルギー比率の3つの選択肢について、政府は、いずれの選択肢も採用しない、新たな案も検討していることが明らかになった。

Regarding the 3 alternatives [presented in the national public comment solicitation] on the reliance on nuclear power, it has been revealed that the national government is considering a new alternative, without adopting any of the existing three alternatives.

政府は、2030年の原発依存度について、「ゼロ」、「15%」、「20～25%」の3つの選択肢を示してきたが、意見聴取会、討論型世論調査、パブリックコメントなどで、「なぜ2030年なのか」など、疑問の声が寄せられていた。

The government has presented the three alternatives regarding the reliance on nuclear power in 2030: "zero", "15%", "20 to 25%". However, there have been those who question "Why 2030?" in the townhall meetings, focus group discussions, and public comments.

こうした意見を受け、政府は、今回はいずれの選択肢も採用せず、原発や再生エネルギーなど、エネルギーごとに、それぞれ目標を設定するという、新たな案も検討しているという。

On receiving such opinions, the government may be considering not adopting any of the alternatives, but come up with a new plan to set different targets for different energy sources such as nuclear and renewable energy.

政府のエネルギー・環境会議は、現在2回目となる世論調査の検証会合を行っているが、専門家などから「熟慮が不十分」など、さまざま意見が出されている。

The government's Energy and Environment Committee is currently having the second meeting to analyze the public opinion survey, but the experts in the committee have expressed opinions including "[public opinions] lack deep consideration".

General public lacking "deep consideration". That's a new one from the arm-chair experts.

You think you've been playing football. And all of a sudden the game changes, literally, and now you find yourself playing ice hockey. Why, you ask? Because the government can. All it needs to do is to declare the game change.

According to some on Twitter, Prime Minister Noda, who appeared on an NHK news program on Monday night in Japan, said something to this extent: "The opinions expressed in the public comments are biased, and cannot be taken seriously.　I would like to listen to the silent majority [who do not submit public comments]."

I remember the general sentiment in Japan when he became the prime minister last year succeeding highly unpopular Naoto Kan - "It can't go any worse, can it?"

Tweet