- Tepco has shown the video conferencing recorded during the first five days of the Fukushima accident. A third of the footage has audio recording, but the other two-thirds are video only. The video shows the high degree of tension among the officials at both the Tepco home office (Tokyo) and plant management in the emergency center (TSC) at F. Daiichi. One example is a telephone conversation with Tepco’s liaison to the prime minister at around 7 p.m. on March 13, 2011, Tepco chairman Katsumata said, “It looks like we may be able to open the vent at the No. 3 (reactor). I think that the problem of hydrogen is very small.” But these speculations were quashed when the unit #3 hydrogen explosion of March 14 occurred and plant manager Yoshida shouted, “We have a big problem, a big problem! The number three reactor, it’s perhaps water steam, there was an explosion! 11:01 am!” A calm voice from Tepco headquarters responded, “11:01 am. Acknowledged. An emergency communication,” followed by another voice saying, “Those out in the field have to pull back, pull back!” The second response seems to have been due to home office knowledge that workers were feverishly working outside the plant buildings that were at risk of being injured by flying debris…and some were hurt, as it turned out. Soon after, Yoshido updated status at the plant site, “Exposure doses are reaching their limits. I want you to pay attention to that!” Then-Tepco President Masataka Shimizu responded, “Please keep trying in one way or another!” An early part of the silent footage showed then-PM Naoto Kan venting his anger at Tepco staff because he believed the company was handling the situation in a clumsy fashion and holding back critical information. At 12:30 pm on March 12, Tepco liaison to Kan, Ichiro Takekuro, says, “He (Kan) got really mad very often. You name it. When I gave him a briefing, he told me, ‘On what grounds? Can you say things will be alright that way even if something happens?’ He was harshly screaming at me.” (Japan Today; Mainichi Shimbun)
- In a western news report concerning the footage, it seemed everyone in Tokyo and at F. Daiichi was taken by surprise and confused by what was happening. The video shows that plant manager Yoshida doubted if Tepco home office people grasped the severity of the situation on March 12 after the unit #1 explosion, “Radiation levels are extremely high. You don’t understand because you’re not here, but it’s really a skin-tight situation. (The workers) can go in only a short while, and they have to rotate.” In another part of the video Yoshida suddenly screams, “Headquarters! This is serious, this is serious! The No. 3 unit. I think this is a hydrogen explosion. We just had an explosion. I can’t see anything from here [TSC] because of heavy smoke.” Confirmation of the explosion came from news media footage seen at the Tepco home office while Yoshida and his staff waited for the smoke to clear. Confusion subsequently peaked when Tepco officials openly argued about whether or not the explosion was due to hydrogen. The video also shows that only a few people in Tokyo were familiar with emergency procedures. One example is when Tepco executive Akio Komori instructs Yoshida to conduct radiation monitoring in case unnecessary personnel have to be evacuated (this was already happening at the accident site). Then, another official says he doesn’t know the evacuation procedure or protocols, saying, “Sorry, that’s not in my head.” Thus, we have our first look at the level of in-house confusion that occurred early-on in the Fukushima nuclear crisis. (Associated Press)
- Comments from WWII atomic bomb survivors reveals mixed opinions on nuclear energy. It seems all survivors are strongly opposed to nuclear weapons proliferation, but not so with regards to nuclear power plants. Among the antinuclear survivors, we find Sunao Tsuboi (age 87) who says there is no difference between Hiroshima survivors and people who have fled from Fukushima, “In terms of being nuclear victims, we are the same.” In addition, he feels anything nuclear is beyond human ability to safely use, “Nuclear technology is beyond human wisdom.” Sachiko Sato, a Fukushima evacuee, said: “I think we can share the same sadness with people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In my mind, Fukushima is like a third nuclear victim following Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” On the other hand, some survivors believe there are few parallels between 1945 and 2011. “There is nothing to compare to what I experienced,” said Hiroshima survivor Shigeji Yonekura, 79. (Japan Today)
- An estimated 1.69 million tons of tsunami debris from Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures must be disposed of outside the two states. Disaster minister Goshi Hosono reported the finding made by a group of Tokyo Cabinet Ministers. The announced burnable volume is 900,000 tons less than previously estimated because the government believes much of the rubble in Iwate can be recycled and used for the Prefecture’s tsunami recovery program. Local communities outside Communities from two prefectures have agreed to help with incineration of 370,000 tons, but more than a million tons remains in question, so Tokyo says they are negotiating with 16 other municipalities. In addition to the announcement, revised estimates were released for all tsunami wastes thatremain to be handled – 5.25 million tons in Iwate, 18.73 million tons in Miyagi and 3.67 million tons in Fukushima prefectures, for a total of 27.65 million tons. This is more than 5 million tons greater than prior estimates. (Yomiuri Shimbun)
- Industry Minister Yukio Edano has advised Prime Minister Noda against meeting with organizers of the weekly nuclear protests in Tokyo. He said the government is already holding public hearings on the nuclear energy issue, so there is no reason to meet with the protesters. This was announced soon after Noda said he needed to postpone the meeting with the protesters scheduled for Wednesday. Official sources said Noda’s schedule was too full to hold talks because of yesterday’s no-confidence motions submitted against him in both houses of the Diet by opposition parties. (Kyodo News)
- Food from the Tohoku region is selling briskly in Tokyo, and not only seafood. People lined up to buy peaches from Fukushima Prefecture and seaweed products from neighboring Miyagi. These items sold for about 30% below the current market prices in order to promote sales. All items sold out in less than two hours. One person bought 2 boxes of Fukushima peaches and said she wanted to cheer up the people there so the least she could do is buy their fruit. (NHK World)
- The Fire and Disaster Management Agency says that 21,047 people were taken to hospitals to be treated for heatstroke in July. Last year, there were about 18,000 reported cases for the month. Add to this some 7,000 cases for the week that just ended on Aug. 6. The Japan Meteorological Agency says the current heat wave will last until at least mid-August. (Japan Today)
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