- 8,686 people were taken to Japanese hospitals by ambulance for heatstroke last week. This was a 50% increase from the previous week. Of those hospitalized, 16 died. People over the age of 65 accounted for 43% of the heatstroke patients. The three prefectures with the highest number of heatstroke sufferers were Aichi (668), Tokyo (646) and Saitama (632). (Jiji Press)
- The tsunami debris along the Fukushima coast continues to run into disposal problems. Local opposition to the government’s disposal plans has caused Tokyo to re-think what might be done with the millions of tons of rubble remaining to be handled. The government had planned to build facilities in 2 towns to incinerate debris from 8 municipalities in Futaba County. However, the environment ministry cannot get local approval for incinerators in Hirono and Namie due to fear of radiation. As a result, the ministry is asking six other towns if they might allow the incinerators to be built. Resolution of the problem remains questionable. (NHK World)
- While the higher, more robust tsunami protection barrier at Hamaoka is on schedule, other Fukushima-related upgrades are falling behind. Chubu Electric Company says unexpected delays with the installation of additional emergency power equipment are the cause of the scheduling setback. The utility’s president, Akihisa Mizuno, told a news conference, “Reactivation (of reactors at the plant) will be delayed because of this, and it will be quite tough on finances.” The problems involve a 40-meter-high platform for emergency gas generators plus improvements in seawater intake protection. Construction of the safety upgrades is considered essential for gaining public support for future restarts of the Hamaoka units. (Mainichi Shimbun)
- The 20km Fukushima maritime no-go zone will be reduced to 5km. The government has been reviewing the maritime entry regulations into the zone at the request of the fishing industry. Fishing industry officials say the 20km radius is costing them money when shipping their catch between the northern and southern ports because by-passing the no-go zone is also adding considerable time to their trade movements. The nuclear disaster task force says radiation levels are sufficiently low in the sea compared to land, where a large part of the 20-kilometer radius around F. Daiichi is still off limits. The potential date for this change was not announced. (NHK World)
- A 20 member team from the IAEA is inspecting the Onagawa nuclear station in Miyagi Prefecture. The goal is to ascertain the level of earthquake damage caused on 3/11/11. They are also inspecting tsunami protection upgrades. Onagawa is 120 kilometers north of F. Daiichi and experienced temblors that were greater than the design criteria for the location. The tsunami flooded one of the station’s basements, but no reactor cooling systems were lost. The mission, led by seismologist Sujit Samaddar, will inspect equipment and facilities at the plant through August 9th. (Japan Today)
- Naoto Kan continues to establish himself as an antinuclear activist. Kan and about a dozen Diet lawmakers met with organizers of the weekly Tokyo antinuclear rally. Kan told the group he has talked with Prime Minister Noda and feels the protests have had an influence on the national leader. “He has told me that he is not reluctant to meet with you,” Kan said, adding he will help arrange a meeting. The activists’ demands include shutting down the two restarted reactors at Oi and not starting up any of the other idled reactors. Their goal is abolishing all nuclear power as soon as possible. Kan stressed that he feels it is crucial to decide Japan’s antinuclear future as soon as possible. (Japan Times)
- The annual Nagasaki Peace Declaration will not call for the abolition of nuclear energy. In addition to their recurring anti-nuclear-weapons plea, the declaration will make a call for “a society where people are not threatened by radiation”. Nagasaki mayor Tomisha Taue said, “This year’s declaration is based on last year’s declaration that called for a change to renewable energy.” (Mainichi Shimbun)
- Fukushima seafood is now being shipped to Tokyo for public sale. This is the first attempt to sell Fukushima Prefecture’s seafood in the national capital. Wednesday’s shipment of 200 kilograms of octopus arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday. After not fishing for any seafood for 15 months, Fukushima fisherman began hauling in 2 kinds of octopus and one variety of clams in June. None of the three have any detectable Fukushima contamination in them. The seafood was taken from the waters off Soma City, 50km from F. Daiichi. The federation of fisheries cooperatives in Fukushima says it will study resuming fishing on a full-fledged basis after seeing how sales go in big markets like Tokyo. The octopus shipped to Tokyo will be sold on Thursday at Tsukiji market. (NHK World)
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