Japan Press Weekly

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2014 January 15 - 21 [TOKYO]

Tokyo gubernatorial candidate Masuzoe proposed an N-power station in Tokyo

Former welfare minister Masuzoe Yoichi began to speak of a non-nuclear energy Tokyo after he announced his candidacy for the Tokyo governor, but he previously proposed that a nuclear power station be constructed in Tokyo.

Masuzoe at a press conference held on January 14 said that he will create “a society not depending on nuclear energy without delay”, adding that he has been calling for breaking with nuclear power generation since the Fukushima nuclear accident occurred in March 2011.

However, there is no record in Diet proceedings mentioning that Masuzoe took a clear no-nuke stance after the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Furthermore, in his book published in June 1998, he was insisting on the need to effectively utilize nuclear energy and plutonium in addition to the implementation of plutonium-thermal programs and the development of fast-breeder reactors.

This book was published following the 1995 sodium-leak accident at the “Monju” fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga City (Fukui Pref.) and the 1997 fire at a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Tokai Village (Ibaraki Pref).

Masuzoe in the book put blame on these two accidents for making it difficult to establish more military bases, nuclear power stations, and garbage disposal sites while arguing that municipalities hosting U.S. military bases or nuclear energy facilities should be proud of contributing to providing safety or energy to the nation.

As “shock therapy” for all the people of Japan, he proposed that another U.S. military base and a nuclear power station be constructed in Tokyo’s waterfront area.