#Fukushima I Nuke Plant "Cold Shutdown" Effect: "Let's All Visit Fukushima" Campaign by the National Government

It looks as if a total, complete cold shutdown has been achieved in the heads of some ministers and agency heads and career bureaucrats in the Japanese national government.

The Japan Tourism Agency under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism launched a new campaign on the day of the declaration of the "cold shutdown/accident over" by Prime Minister Yoshikiko "Saved by Kim" Noda.

What's the campaign, you ask?

"Let's go visit Fukushima Prefecture, now that the Step 2 of the TEPCO/government Roadmap has been completed!" Rejoice, it's safe!

From the Japan Tourism Agency press release (12/16/2011):

本日、野田佳彦内閣総理大臣から、「東京電力福島第一原子力発電所・事故の収束に向けた道筋」（いわゆる「工程表」）におけるステップ２（原子炉の「冷温停止状態」の達成）を完了した旨の発表がありました。

Today [December 16], Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced the completion of the so-called Step 2 (achievement of a "cold shutdown state" of the reactors) of "the roadmap to winding down the TEPCO Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident".

　観光庁としても、福島第一原子力発電所が「冷温停止状態」になった事実を国内・海外に発信してまいります。
また、平成２３年度第３次補正予算により、東北地方全体を博覧会場と見立て、地域や民間の様々な取組みを連携させ、統一的な情報発信等を行う「東北観光博」等国内観光振興の取組みを実施するとともに、訪日外客を着実に回復させるための取組みも実施してまいります。

The Japan Tourism Agency intends to inform people both inside and outside Japan of the fact that Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant has achieved a "cold shutdown state". Thanks to the 3rd supplementary budget for the fiscal 2011 year, the Agency will consider the entire Tohoku region as one big exhibition hall, and by coordinating the various regional and private efforts promote the domestic tourism with events like "Tohoku Tourism Exhibition". The Agency will also strive for a steady recovery of foreign tourists visiting Japan.

　福島県からは、今後、ありがとうキャンペーンや若者を対象としたスキー場のリフト券無料化など様々な取組みを実施し、全国の皆さんをお迎えしていきたいと伺っています。

The Agency has heard from Fukushima Prefecture that the prefecture is looking forward to receiving visitors from all over Japan with "thank-you" campaign and free lift passes for the ski slopes targeted for young people.

　全国の皆さん、是非、福島に旅行に出掛けて下さい。福島が元気にならなければ、東北地方、さらには日本全体の元気はありません。福島県の被災された地域の方々の心情に配慮しつつ、観光で日本を元気にするという気持ちで、一緒に取り組んでまいりましょう。

Citizens of Japan, by all means please go visit Fukushima Prefecture. Unless Fukushima recovers, Tohoku, or for that matter the entire Japan will not recover. Be considerate how the people living in the affected areas of Fukushima feel, and let's do it together with the spirit that tourism will make Japan recover.

　※ご要望があれば、長官が直接取材又は電話取材に対応させていただきます。以下の連絡先にご連絡下さい。

Upon request, the Director General would be happy to talk with the press, either in direct meetings or via telephone. Please contact us at the following numbers.

Here's Director General Hiroshi Mizohata, from the Agency's webpage.

And the numbers to call are:

03-5253-8111 （extension 27-115）
Direct: 03-5253-8322 (Ask for Fujita or Ohno)

"Cold shutdown state" is a fact, everyone got that? But "thank-you" campaign by Fukushima Prefecture? For what?

The last paragraph reads just as demented as Minister of the Environment Goshi Hosono's remark that he will make Fukushima Prefecture having the lowest cancer rate in the whole country.

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