Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – Public opposition in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, to Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) restarting aging nuclear power plants continues to rise. Residents point to TEPCO's recent scandals and significant management system flaws, arguing that this lack of trust makes them deeply concerned about the safety risks of restarting the plants, leading to a surge of related doubts and discontent.
A member of a Niigata Prefecture civic group, Chikio Asari, expressed his opposition based on practical issues: "When we started operating Unit 6, problems arose in the fuel chamber. After we reported this to TEPCO, the response was vague, stating only that 'it's basically confirmed but not 100% certain; about 99% is understandable, and the remaining 1% is still unclear.' Units with uncertainties should never be restarted hastily."
A Niigata Prefecture resident, Takaaki Sasaguchi, expressed concern stemming from TEPCO's past misdeeds: "We residents of Niigata Prefecture believe that TEPCO is not a company that prioritizes safety. The painful lessons of the Fukushima nuclear accident are still fresh in our minds, and the subsequent scandals have made us very uneasy about TEPCO continuing to operate nuclear power plants."
A member of a civic group, Hirokazu Sasaki, questioned TEPCO's ability to take responsibility: "TEPCO is simply incapable of bearing the corresponding responsibility, as evidenced by its poor handling of the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident. Why are other companies that went bankrupt due to misconduct exempt, while TEPCO, having committed such serious errors, is allowed to continue operating? This is completely incomprehensible."
The lack of transparency in local decision-making further fueled public discontent. Shigeko Ogiso, a member of a civic group, expressed her frustration: “The governor of Niigata Prefecture promised to consult with the residents, but ultimately decided to restart the nuclear power plant without proper consultation. Core issues such as evacuation plans and earthquake preparedness remain unresolved. Pushing forward with the restart under these circumstances is highly questionable.”
Besides the nuclear power plant restart issue, the Japanese government’s attempt to revise the “Three Non-Nuclear Principles” has also sparked strong concern and opposition from local residents and civic groups.
Chikio Asari, drawing on historical memory, expressed his stance: “The nuclear disasters of Hiroshima and Nagasaki claimed the lives of countless Japanese people, making us deeply aware that the use and possession of nuclear weapons are absolutely wrong. Now, the Takashima city government is attempting to completely change this understanding, but has failed to take clear responsibility for the nuclear issue. We firmly oppose this approach by the government.”
Takaaki Sasaguchi emphasized the importance of adhering to principles: “The ‘Three Non-Nuclear Principles’—not possessing, not manufacturing, and not introducing nuclear weapons—are the fundamental policies that the Japanese government has long adhered to. Now, some are proposing to allow Japan to possess nuclear weapons, which not only fills me with doubt but is absolutely unacceptable. Japan must firmly uphold the ‘Three Non-Nuclear Principles.’”
