Yomiuri Shinbun on TEPCO's Video: "They Even Blurred the Face of President Shimizu"

I was amused to read that even Yomiuri Shinbun - pro-nuke and pro-government - is indignant at TEPCO's censoring of the video of the teleconferencing in the first 5 days of the accident.

I was further amused that Yomiuri, of all newspapers, accused TEPCO of its negative attitude toward information disclosure.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (8/7/2012):

緊迫場面修正だらけ…東電、社長の顔までぼかす

Tense moments full of modifications... TEPCO even blurred the face of the president

東京電力は６日、福島第一原発事故直後、本店や現場をつないだテレビ会議の録画記録をようやく公開した。

On August 6, TEPCO finally released the video recording of the teleconference between the headquarters and the plant right after the start of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident.

だが映像や音声は不鮮明で、ぼかしが多く、公開された記録も全体の一部にとどまるなど、同社の後ろ向きな姿勢を感じさせた。

However, the images and sounds were not clear, with many blurs. Only part of the recording was made public, indicating the negative attitude of the company toward information disclosure.

記録は計１５０時間分で、東電によると、このうち音声１６６５か所、画像２９か所で処理が施されている。同社は「社員個人のプライバシーを守るためで、意図的ではない」としている。

The recording is 150-hour long, and according to TEPCO 1,665 voices and 29 images have been modified. The company says it is to protect the privacy of individual employees and there is no other intention.

しかし、清水正孝社長（当時、以下同じ）の顔さえ判別できないぼかしもあり、表情が読み取れない場面もある。音声も随所で「ピー音」が入ったり、途切れたりしている。

However, blurring is such that we can't even discern the face of then-President Masataka Shimizu, and we cannot see the facial expressions in others. Voices are often interrupted with beeping sound or muted.

画面は６分割されている。本店や第一原発などをつないでテレビ会議が行われていたためで、画質はもともと粗い。だが、映像会社の技術者は「１号機の海水注入を巡る場面で、第一原発の吉田昌郎所長が両手でバツ印を出す場面があるが、手の部分だけが不鮮明だ」として、必要以上に加工しているのではないかと疑いの目を向ける。

The screen is divided into 6 smaller screens. It was a teleconference between the headquarters and Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant and other locations, so the image quality is not that great to begin with. However, an engineer at an audio-visual company suspects TEPCO may have modified the footage more than necessary. For an example, he says, "About the seawater injection, Plant Manager Masao Yoshio made a cross with his hands [indicating "no go"] in one scene. But only his hands are blurred [and look unnatural].

そもそもテレビ会議の記録の公開は、報道機関が事故直後から求めてきた。東電は「社員のプライバシー」を理由に拒否。今年６月２７日に就任した新経営陣の判断で公開が決まった。しかし、〈１〉録音・撮影禁止〈２〉役員を除く社員の個人名は報道しない――などの条件を付け、違反すれば映像視聴、東電の記者会見への参加は禁止するとした。

The press have demanded the public disclosure of the recordings of the teleconference since the start of the accident. TEPCO has declined the request due to "employees' privacy". The disclosure was finally decided by the new management who was installed on June 27 this year [at TEPCO's shareholders' meeting]. However, TEPCO's conditions for disclosure include (1) No recording of sound or images allowed; (2) No reporting of names of TEPCO's employees other than the top management, and the company says it will prohibit the violators from further viewing the recording and attending TEPCO's press conference.

しかも、当初は、視聴期間は５日間とし、生の映像を視聴できる記者を１社１人に限定した。枝野経済産業相が改善を指示して、約１か月にのびた。

On top of these stipulations, the company initially said the viewing would be only for 5 days, and that only one reporter per news organization would be allowed to view the raw footage. Thanks to the instruction from Mr. Edano, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, TEPCO extended the period to about one month.

日本新聞協会は東電に対して無修整で全面公開するよう申し入れたが、公開映像は実質５日分にとどまった。情報公開に後ろ向きなこうした姿勢は、公開された記録の中にもあった。

Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association requested that TEPCO disclose the entire footage without modification, but only 5-day worth of footage has been made public. TEPCO's negative attitude toward information disclosure is also reflected in the footage that has been publicly disclosed.

３号機の水素爆発の可能性が指摘される中、勝俣恒久会長が東電幹部との電話で、「国民を騒がせるのがいいのかどうかの判断だけど。次の記者会見でそれ（水素爆発）を聞かれたら、否定するよ、やっぱりあり得ないと」と語っている。

When [experts] were pointing to the possible hydrogen explosion of Reactor 3 [i.e. before Reactor 3 exploded], then-Chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata is heard on the phone with TEPCO's senior management, "It is a judgement call whether it is OK to disturb citizens. If I'm asked about it (possibility of hydrogen explosion) in the next press conference, I will deny it, and say it is not possible."

Well, I don't quite agree with Yomiuri's assessment (Yomiuri, of all newspapers) that Mr. Katsumata's comment means TEPCO was trying to hide. At that time, it might have caused panic, although it may have been no big deal after the explosion of Reactor 1. What was more criminal was what the national government did after the explosion of Reactor 3 on March 14, and the explosion of Reactor 4 on March 15. They did nothing. They didn't warn residents in the surrounding areas beyond saying "it may be better to stay indoors just in case", they didn't warn residents at all in the wider areas in Tohoku and Kanto where the radioactive plume went.

Unlike officials in Contra Costa County in California who warned the residents on what to do to protect themselves from the toxic fume from the Chevron refinery accident, the Japanese government did nothing. It could have said exactly the same thing as the Contra Costa County officials said:

Don't be outside, go indoors, close doors and windows, shut down air conditioners, and seal doors and windows with tapes or wet towel.

Instead, the Prime Minister's Office (under Naoto Kan) issued a vague, cryptic announcement on March 20, 2011, telling citizens that it might be better not to get wet in the rain, but if you did get wet, no big deal. "There is no effect on health", the announcement says. The phrase sounds painfully familiar now.

If you're interested in viewing the video(s) publicly disclosed (about one hour and 30 minutes), here are the links:

TEPCO:　(Oh wait, now they allow download... I will download it (665MB).) http://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2012/201208-e/120806-02e.html
Nikkei Shinbun: http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG0401X_W2A800C1000000/?dg=1
Sankei Shinbun (Youtube channel): http://www.youtube.com/user/SankeiNews?feature=watch

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July 6 Protest in Tokyo: Organizers Say 150,000 Despite the Rain, 21,000 Says Police, Even Yomiuri Reports

The police this time says 21,000 people, up 4,000 from their last week's estimate of 17,000. Organizers say 150,000, about the same level as last week. Participants (or would-have-been participants) say many more were stopped at the subway station (Kokkaigijidomae) exit and couldn't get out.

(It looks like it was one particular exit, and others were open. They could have also ridden one more station and exit from there instead.)

And even more surprising, Yomiuri Online did cover the event (I think it is the first, online), and even quoted the police number. It even has a photograph! Tide is turning! This historical coverage must be preserved... (OK, sarcasm off.)

From Yomiuri Shinbun (7/7/2012):

首相官邸前で反原発デモ、大飯再稼働に抗議

Anti-nuke plant protest in front of PM Official Residence, protesting against the restart of Ooi

５日に発電を再開した関西電力大飯原子力発電所（福井県）の運転停止を求める市民グループらが６日、東京都千代田区永田町の首相官邸前で抗議活動を行った。

Citizens' groups demanding the halt of operation at KEPCO Ooi Nuclear Power Plant (in Fukui Prefecture) which restarted power generation on July 5 conducted the protest action in front of the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Nagata-cho, Chiyodaku in Tokyo.

警視庁によると、参加者は約２万１０００人にのぼり、官邸前には約８００メートルの列ができた。ツイッターやフェイスブックなどを通じた呼びかけで集まった若者らが「国民の声を聞け」などと書かれたプラカードを掲げ、「再稼働反対」と連呼した。

According to the Metropolitan Police, the number of participants rose to about 21,000, and there was a 800 meter-long line in front of the Official Residence. People including young people who gathered there via Twitter and Facebook messages shouted "Saikado Hantai (we're against the restart)", waving signs like "Listen to us citizens".

一部の参加者が抗議活動が終了する予定だった午後８時を過ぎて官邸に向かって行進を始めたため、制止しようとする主催者側や警察官と向かい合って一時騒然となる場面もあった。

A small group of participants started to march toward the PM Official Residence after 8PM, the time that the protest action was scheduled to end, and there was a minor scuffle between the group and the organizers and the police, who together tried to restrain the group.

小学２年生の長男（８）と次男（３）を連れてきた東京都大田区の主婦（３５）は「子どもたちの安全を守るために、きちんと原発反対の意思表示をしなければならないと思った」と話していた。

A housewife (aged 35) from Ota-ku, Tokyo who came with her two sons (aged 8 and 3) said, "[I came because] I thought I had to clearly express my view against nuclear power plants, in order to protect children."

That small group who pushed to the front after the protest hours was one of the long-time established left groups, according to the participants who witnessed the scuffle. The group, who tried to make a scene, according to the witness account, was restrained by both the organizers and the police.

If you recall, this is the newspaper who allegedly said they wouldn't cover the protest because it was against the paper's policy and stance.

So now what?

What's interesting is that more and more senior politicians are showing up at the protest. Shizuka Kamei was one example. He is the ousted former head of the ruling coalition party People's New Party, or Kokumin Shinto. Though he was ousted in the party "coup" in March this year, he seems to carry weight as an "insider". Many people know him as a former police and security official with ties to nuclear industry, making his appearance puzzling or troubling for some.

It turns out that Kamei's elder sister died of leukemia, after suffering from the radiation exposure she received in Hiroshima City when the atomic bomb detonated. Kamei said in this interview that his sister, who was in high school at that time, repeatedly went back to the city center with her classmates to help people suffering the effect of the bomb.

To be anti-nuclear or anti-restart of nuke plants may be getting to be perceived by some politicians as a vote getter. Good sign, I think.

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Ooi Nuke Plant Reactor 3 to Start on July 1st

Never mind the 28 alarms.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (6/25/2012):

大飯原発３号機、１日に原子炉起動へ…関電

KEPCO to start the reactor No.3 at Ooi Nuclear Power Plant on July 1

関西電力は、再稼働に向けて作業中の大飯原子力発電所３号機（福井県おおい町）について、７月１日に原子炉を起動する見込みになったことを明らかにした。

Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) has disclosed that the company now expects to start the nuclear reactor on July 1 at Ooi Nuclear Power Plant Reactor 3 (Ooi-cho, Fukui Prefecture), which KEPCO has been working on to prepare for the restart.

関電はこれまで原子炉の起動日が７月１日～３日の間になると幅を持たせてきた。６月２６日に２次冷却水の配管洗浄作業が終わる見通しとなり、原子炉を再起動できる日程が固まった。

So far, KEPCO has hinted that the start date for the reactor would be sometime between July 1 and 3. The clean-up of the pipes for the secondary cooling system is expected to be finished on June 26, which has made the schedule for the restart much firmer.

関電によると、１日中に核分裂反応を制御する制御棒を引き抜く操作を始める。

According to KEPCO, the control rods will be removed on July 1.

By the way, someone tweeted on June 23 that he called Yomiuri Shinbun and asked why the newspaper hadn't reported on the protest on June 22 in front of the Prime Minister's Official Residence in central Tokyo. The alleged answer from the newspaper was, "These people were doing what is against our principles and positions, so we made the decision not to report the protest. They were doing what we couldn't possibly approve of."

If this is true, Yomiuri Shinbun has no pretense about what they are, and that is good. People can now jettison the idea that Yomiuri is in a business of reporting news.

Let's see what Yomiuri is reporting today that must be satisfying their principles and positions and which they highly approve of. From their online version top headlines:

社会保障・税一体改革法案、衆院特別委で可決

Social security and taxation integrated reform bill passed the special committee of the Lower House

対決の朝…首相、苦悩の表情・小沢氏は気合十分

Day of confrontation: Prime Minister has anguished look, Mr. Ozawa full of fighting spirit

「入れ墨ある」教諭１人含め１０人…大阪市教委

10 members of Osaka City Board of Education has tattoos, including one teacher

So the paper likes the so-called reform which will destroy what's left of the middle class and punish the poor and the elderly. It also likes the tattooed educators in Osaka City.

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#Radiation in Japan: US State Dept Does Say Risk is Higher Within 80-km Radius

When Goshi Hosono, Minister of the Environment and Minister in charge of Fukushima nuke accident, said "It's a great endorsement by the United States government on the Japanese government effort in winding down the accident", he was talking about the supposed decision by the US government to "shrink" the area for the US citizens in Japan to avoid from the 80-kilometer radius from the stricken plant to the 20-kilometer radius.

Here's what Yomiuri Shinbun quoted Hosono on October 8 as:

細野原発相は８日午前、米政府が東京電力福島第一原子力発電所事故に伴う米国人向けの避難勧告の範囲縮小を発表したことについて、「米国とは（避難区域についての）考え方のすりあわせを長い間かけてやってきた。我々の取り組みが国際社会の理解を得られたという象徴的な出来事で、歓迎したい」と述べた。

Hosono, Minister in charge of the nuclear accident, commented in the morning on October 8 on the US government announcement to shrink the area that the US government recommends for the US citizens in Japan to avoid. "We have been discussing with the US government for a very long time to come to a consensus on the evacuation area. This decision by the US government is a symbolic event that we welcome. It shows the international communities consider our effort in a positive light".

(Effort? What effort? Oh that one about spreading the radioactive debris all over Japan?)

And the US government decision as reported (10/8/2011) by the same newspaper which grew to one of the largest newspapers in Japan under the leadership of a known CIA agent and Japan's first Director General of the Science and Technology Agency (Matsutaro Shoriki):

米国務省は７日の渡航情報で、福島第一原発の半径５０マイル（約８０キロ）としていた米国人向けの避難勧告の範囲を半径２０キロに縮小すると発表した。

The US State Department announced on its October 7 Travel Alert that it will shrink the area for evacuation recommendation for the US citizens from the 80-kilometer radius from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant to 20-kilometer radius.

　この範囲外でも、日本政府が定めた「計画的避難区域」や「特定避難勧奨地点」は避けるよう求めているほか、妊婦や子供、高齢者は３０キロ圏内に居住しないよう呼びかけている。

Outside the 20-kilometer radius, the State Department asks the US citizens to avoid the "planned evacuation zone" [between 20 and 30-kilometer radius] and "specific spots recommended for evacuation" [outside 30-kilometer radius in Fukushima]. It also advises that pregnant women, children, and the elderly should avoid residing within 30 km of the plant.

　米政府は放射性物質の放出が止まらない事態を想定し、３月１６日に８０キロの避難範囲を設定した。原子炉の状態が落ち着いてきたことを受けた今回の緩和により、日本政府が設定した半径２０キロの「警戒区域」と足並みがそろった。

The US government set the evacuation recommendation zone of 80-kilometer radius from the plant on March 16, assuming that the emission of radioactive materials would continue. As the situation of the reactors at Fukushima I Nuke Plant has stabilized, this loosening of the evacuation recommendation [by the US government] is in line with the Japanese government's 20-kilometer radius "no entry zone".

Isn't it interesting that the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan invited Dr. Wade Allison right before this announcement to assure the US businesses in Japan that there's nothing to worry about the radiation contamination in Japan, by suggesting 1.2 sievert/year exposure is still totally safe.

In line with the Japanese government, that's for sure.

But what did the State Department actually say? It said more than the select reporting by the Japanese MSM, which is the part about shrinking the original 80-kilometer radius evacuation recommendation. Here's from the actual State Department "Travel Alert" on October 7, 2011:

Other Areas Within 80km of Fukushima Daiichi Plant

TEMPORARY VISITORS: Government of Japan data measurements show varying levels of radiation in land areas outside of the area described above, but within 80 kilometers of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant. The U.S. government believes the health and safety risks to temporary visitors to these areas are low and exposure does not pose significant risks to U.S. citizens making visits of less than one year. We recommend U.S. citizens contemplating travel to these areas consult with Japanese authorities regarding local conditions at the proposed destination.

LONG-TERM RESIDENTS: The risks may be higher for U.S. citizens who reside for more than one year within 80 kilometers of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant. Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that U.S. citizens who choose to reside for more than one year within 80 kilometers of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant consult with local authorities to receive current guidance on expected levels of radiation and recommendations for reducing exposure to radiation. In addition, pregnant women, children, and the elderly should avoid residing within 30 km of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant.

So, the US government is saying that living within the 80-kilometer radius for more than one year may increase the risks, and should the US citizens choose to do so at their own risk they should get the information about radiation from local authorities. (Good luck with the last one.)

The Japanese government is entertaining the IAEA Decontamination Mission right now within that 80-kilometer radius. It will be also inviting 10,000 foreigners to Japan, free of charge, so that they spread the word via the Internet that "Japan is safe". I'm not sure if this is different from the previously announced project of inviting the social media writers with big followers to the disaster-affected area, but judging by the number of foreigners it intends to invite, it is a separate project.

(OK, it is a separate project. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will invite social media writers, and the Japan Tourism Agency under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will invite 10,000 foreign tourists. Total 2.6 billion yen giveaway, courtesy of the Japanese taxpayers.)

A full-on "safety" campaign is on in Japan right now, using various media outlets (more later). The details of the US State Department's announcement are just that, details. Who cares about the details?

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President Obama's Special 9-11 Message Only for Yomiuri Shinbun

Oh isn't it interesting...

Yomiuri Shinbun says US President Obama has sent a special message to Yomiuri on the occasion of the 10-year anniversary of September-11.

Yomiuri Shinbun (1:09AM JST 9/11/2011):

２００１年９月、ハイジャック機が米ニューヨークの世界貿易センター（ＷＴＣ）ビルやワシントン郊外の国防総省など３か所に突入、墜落して計約３０００人を殺害した同時テロから１１日で１０年を迎える。

It has been 10 years since the simultaneous terrorist attacks when hijacked airplanes hit the World Trade Center buildings in New York and the Pentagon outside the Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001, killing 3,000 people.

ＷＴＣ跡地ではオバマ大統領も出席して追悼式典が行われ、犠牲者の鎮魂を祈る。

At the "Ground Zero" at the World Trade Center, a commemorative ceremony will be conducted to pray for the victims. President Obama will also join.

　オバマ大統領は１０日、「不可欠なパートナーシップ」と題して読売新聞に寄稿し、同時テロから１０年を機に、「平和と繁栄の未来を求める国や人々には米国というパートナーがいる。米国は経済問題に直面しているが、世界で比類のない指導的役割を今後も果たす」との決意を表明した。大統領は、同時テロ後、米欧とイスラム世界の関係が緊張したことを踏まえ、「米国はイスラムと戦争をしているのではなく、今後も決してしない」と改めて強調した。（英文は１１日付「ザ・デイリー・ヨミウリ」に掲載）

On September 10, President Obama wrote a guest editorial for Yomiuri Shinbun titled "Indispensable Partnership". In the editorial, the president said "There's always the United States as the partner, for countries and people who want a peaceful, prosperous future. The United States is currently facing an economic problem, but is determined to play a leading role incomparable in the world". Touching on the relationship between the US and Europe and the Islamic countries that grew tense after the terrorist attacks, the president emphasized, "The United States is not at war with Islam, and will never be". (The president's editorial will be carried on "The Daily Yomiuri" on September 11.)

It is not President Obama's (or his writer's) own words that you see in the above paragraph. It's my translation of Yomiuri's translation, which will not match the original English verbatum.

Why was this paper, Yomiuri, selected as the vehicle for a guest editorial by a US President?

Yomiuri Shinbun has a colorful history in Japan. After Matsutaro Shoriki bought the then-small Yomiuri Shinbun in 1924, one year after the "Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923" with the help from the earthquake recovery agency, it went on to acquire huge national readership. In 1950s, the paper was used as one of the vehicles whereby Shoriki pushed for nuclear energy and promoted it extensively to the Japanese who were leery and suspicious of anything nuclear after the two bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Daigo Fukuryumaru's Bikini Atoll accident in 1954. The other "vehicle" was Nippon Television, where Shoriki served as the president. Extensively using both media, Shoriki, who in 1956 became the first head of the Science and Technology Agency specifically created to promote nuclear energy in Japan, successfully turned around the extremely negative sentiment among the Japanese concerning nuclear energy into that of ardent support. In 1965, Japan's first nuclear reactor went critical in Tokai-mura in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Shoriki was a former high-ranking official in the pre-war Interior Ministry, and he was incarcerated in Sugamo Prison as a Class-A war criminal but later released. In the post World War II days he was an CIA operative with a code name "podam" and "pojacpot-1 ". It is said that both the US and Shoriki were interested in pushing the national television network and the nuclear power in Japan.

Yomiuri remains unabashedly pro-nuke.

Old ties die hard, and the President of the United States sends a 9-11 message only to this particular newspaper.

(Matsutaro Shoriki's information from Japanese wikipedia and other sources in Japanese.)

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