Nearly 80 percent of Japanese municipalities with nuclear power plants have expressed caution about resuming operations of suspended reactors. NHK asked 29 such municipalities except those in Fukushima Prefecture whether they would allow such resumptions. 28 responded. 5 municipalities said they would not do so for the time being, while 17 others said they cannot decide now.
Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has replaced its spokesperson over a scandal that was reported in the press. Hidehiko Nishiyama had held daily media briefings since the troubles began at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in March. Nishiyama was reprimanded by Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda last Thursday, the day the scandal surfaced in a weekly magazine. Kaieda told Nishiyama the report gives the impression that he hasn't been concentrating on his job.
Shareholders of the Tohoku Electric Power Company in northeastern Japan have voted down a proposal to abandon nuclear power generation. The vote was held at a meeting of about 1,300 of the utility's shareholders in Sendai City of Miyagi Prefecture on Wednesday. A group of shareholders proposed having the firm's rules stipulate its withdrawal from nuclear power generation. The proposal was voted down by a majority.
