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Ensuring that the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Does Not Fade from Memory

Published on Apr. 6, 2016: The Denki Shimbun (The Electric Daily News)
Shojiro Matsuura
Chairman of JANSI

“Disaster strikes when people no longer remember the previous disaster.” These words have been uttered since ancient times, representing a lesson passed down from generation to generation to ensure that people do not forget major disasters that occurred. Nevertheless, memories of human-caused disasters, such as invasions by external enemies and wars, along with memories of huge earthquakes and major natural environmental changes and the following natural disasters, such as the outbreak of epidemics related to these events, ultimately fade from memory.

Since the dawn of history, there have been nearly no cases in Japan and other regions in the world of countries or societies remaining stable for over 300 years. Yet, no matter how disastrous the effects of changes may be, people and societies negligently forget them.

Five years have passed since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Taking the lessons of history into account, it is never too early to worry about the memories of this accident fading. In light of energy security and Japan’s geopolitical environment, nuclear operators believe that the use of nuclear energy beyond the minimum extent must be ensured. Thus, it is only natural for them to make a decision on how to prevent these memories from fading.

Looking ahead to the future of Japanese society, there are three questions that must be answered: How can nuclear operators prevent memories of the accident from fading? How can they operate nuclear reactors while fully ensuring safety? How do they regain trust by changing how society thinks?

On this point, there are many valuable lessons we can learn from Japan’s long history. There are a number of cases in which important knowledge and techniques have been passed down over several hundred years to ensure they are not forgotten.

These cases are connected to religion in Japan, although no relationship appears to exist between nuclear power and religion. The underlying purpose for preventing memories of the nuclear reactor accident from fading is to ensure the safety of people and society. In similar fashion, the original purpose of religious events is to pray for the safety and peace of people and society. Beneath the surface, these two areas share a similar culture and approach.

There are many important events in Japanese religion, such as the anniversaries of years, decades, and centuries in Buddhism, and the shikinen sengu, construction of a new shrine and transfer of the enshrined object from the old to the new, in Shinto that takes place every few decades. One very important fact is that these events not only represent the continuation of religious services, but also serve as venues to pass on knowledge, information, and a variety of techniques related to these events. Through these events, Buddhist priests and Shinto priests cooperate with local residents, temple patrons, and shrine parishioners to confirm the mutual trust that has been nourished for generations. This interaction is especially important, and must not be overlooked.

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, near the place where I was born and grew up, holds the Zuiki festival, a major festival that is said to have started during the reign of Emperor Murakami (946-967). It is believed that the name of the festival comes from the fact that every year shrine parishioners offered a mikoshi (portable shrine) with a roof covered with a Zuiki vegetable, which was decorated with agricultural products produced in the local area. When the festival finishes, the mikoshi is taken apart and the materials are discarded. The reconstruction of the mikoshi every year has enabled the significance and these techniques to be passed down nearly intact for more than 1,000 years.

It is not possible to imagine existing nuclear technologies being used 100 years the same way they are now. However, barring any major changes in the world, nuclear energy will continue to be used for the next several hundred years. For this reason, we need to take measures to prevent severe accidents until a disaster-free technological structure is established, and ensure that memories of the accident do not fade away.

In the realm of nuclear power, accident response training resembles the festivals for religious events we see in Japan. Training must impart the technologies, knowledge, and experiences for ensuring safety in as rational and specific way as possible.

Ideally, operators and specialists should carefully discuss which areas accident response training is supposed to cover. However, training involving nuclear reactors to prevent severe accidents is probably the most effective means for passing down the memories of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident and steadily preventing accidents.

This type of training can be carried out on a grand scale during the first year. Subsequent training can then be carried out annually, once every five years, or once every ten years by adjusting the scale, with training conducted on a grand scale again during the thirtieth year. In addition, when this type of training is carried out in close cooperation with local people, it becomes possible to maintain the trust of society as well as pass on technologies.

How about adopting this approach to training with focus on passing down knowledge and experience to prevent the memories of the accident from fading?




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