There Have Been 201 Accidents at #Fukushima I NPP Since March 11, 2011, Says Nuclear Regulation Authority; PM Abe Says "Regrettable"

If the number is correct, it has been 5 to 6 accidents ("toraburu" - trouble, as Japanese call them) per month since March 11, 2011. Reading tweets by workers at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, I would have thought the number was much, much higher (like one per day).

From Jiji Tsushin (2/27/2014):

福島原発トラブル２０１件＝規制委

201 accidents at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, says Nuclear Regulation Authority

　原子力規制委員会の田中俊一委員長は２７日の衆院予算委員会で、２０１１年３月の東日本大震災発生以降の東京電力福島第１原発でのトラブル発生件数について、「構内車両の油漏れなども含め、（原子力）規制庁が整理したものまで入れると、全体で２０１件になる」と語った。共産党の笠井亮氏への答弁。

In the Budget Committee in the Lower House on February 27, Chairman Shunichi Tanaka of Nuclear Regulation Authority said the number of accidents that have taken place in Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant since the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake is "201, including oil leaks from the vehicles inside the plant compound and including those documented by the Nuclear Regulation Agency." His remark was in response to the question by Mr. Ryo Kasai of Japanese Communist Party.

　田中氏は当初、規制委として把握しているトラブルの件数を１０７件と説明した。笠井氏は「トラブル隠しとしか言いようがない」と批判。安倍晋三首相は「なぜ（トラブルが）出るのかはなかなか理解できないが、そういうことがあれば誠に遺憾だし、起こらないように万全を尽くすべきだ」と述べた。

Initially, Mr. Tanaka said the number of incidents that NRA was aware of was 107. Mr. Kasai criticized [Mr Tanaka] as "hiding accidents". Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, "It is hard to understand why (accidents) happen, but when they do it is very regrettable, and [TEPCO] should do its atmost best to prevent accidents from happening."

It's not that Mr. Abe does not quite understand; he doesn't quite care. That's the feeling I get, seeing him and reading the comment like this which is devoid of any meaning, even though he was the one who declared "the national government at the forefront" in dealing with the Fukushima I NPP accident.

The concept of "Japan, the beautiful country" is all he cares. Not the real thing.

Representative Kasai of Communist Party criticizes, but I don't think his party cares either, judging from what Communist Party's stance turned out to be during the Tokyo gubernatorial election. If the plant keeps having one accident after another, they can use the accidents to criticize the Abe administration and look good in the eyes of current supporters and potential voters in the future election. No incentive for them to push for comprehensible measures.

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