Japan Press Weekly

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2013 February 20 - 26 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Hakodate City Assembly objects to Oma nuclear plant construction

The assembly of Hokkaido’s southern city of Hakodate on February 21 visited Tokyo for the first time as a multi-partisan delegation to make representations to each political party, requesting an indefinite freeze on the plan to construct the Oma nuclear power plant in Aomori on the opposite shore.

The delegation, including two Japanese Communist Party assemblypersons, stated that they can not accept the resumption of the construction of another nuclear plant approved by the Democratic Party government last October.

Vice chairman of the Hakodate City Assembly Iwakura Kazuyuki said, “Hakodate is located only 17.5km from the Oma plant. If an accident occurs, there is nothing between the plant and our city to eliminate or minimize damages. I myself belong to the DPJ, but I strongly felt angry at the decision on the resumption of the construction.”

JCP assemblyperson Honma Katsumi said, “We are working hard against the construction” together with 11 municipalities of southern Hokkaido calling for the freeze.

From the JCP, Kami Tomoko and Daimon Mikishi, both Upper House lawmakers, and Lower House lawmaker Kasai Akira received the delegation.

Kami responded, “We will do all we can to stop the construction while carefully consulting with plant-hosting municipalities about their local economies without nuclear plants,” saying that she had immediately lodged a protest with the Oma operator when the construction work started again last year.