With two weeks to go before the expiry of a deadline to win backing for a local referendum on the use of nuclear power, a Tokyo-based citizens group is still short of 120,000 signatures.
With two weeks to go before the expiry of a deadline to win backing for a local referendum on the use of nuclear power, a Tokyo-based citizens group is still short of 120,000 signatures.
The group is called Minna de Kimeyo Genpatsu Kokumin Tohyo, which translates as Let everyone participate in a referendum on making decisions about nuclear power.
Under the law, the signatures of at least one-50th of all voters in a municipal area must be obtained before a petition can be submitted to the head of the municipal government demanding that a particular ordinance be established, revised or abolished.
The group had collected 94,962 signatures by Jan. 18. It needs some 214,000 signatures to press ahead with its campaign.
Akira Yagiura, one of the representatives leading the drive, urged a meeting of some 350 residents on Jan. 9 to make an extra effort.
“Are you desperate and intense enough (for the campaign)?” Yagiura, 35, asked participants who had gathered for a progress report. “We won’t be able to collect the necessary signatures if this goes on.”
The group initially aimed for 300,000 signatures.
But due to a lack of volunteer personnel, it was only able to set up three permanent venues for passers-by to sign: the busy Shibuya and Shinjuku districts and in front of JR Tachikawa Station.
The campaign started Dec. 10.
In an effort to forge ahead, the group is focusing on two signature stations: Shinjuku and Shibuya. It is also trying to enlist people to help in the drive by approaching residents.
Tomoko Matsumoto, a 48-year-old resident of Akishima, another representative of the petitioners’ group, spends her afternoons until early evening in front of Kichijoji Station urging passers-by to sign.
She also visits friends and restaurants in her neighborhood.
“I want to collect as many signatures as possible. I want to create a community network,” she said.
Akira Shimada, 40, who runs a drinking establishment in the same city, is also helping out.
Shimada said he couldn't stay neutral to nuclear power issues after visiting Fukushima Prefecture to help run a soup kitchen with other restaurant owners last spring following the meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Shimada got 13 of his customers to sign by early January.
Even though many customers belittle the petition drive, Shimada vowed not to give up until the last day.
A resident of Nerima Ward, who works as a campaign collaborator, collected signatures from about 130 residents in his neighborhood.
“Many people do not know about the signature drive yet,” said the 67-year-old man. “How many signatures we can collect through door-to-door visits will be a key.”
A petition drive in Osaka, which closed on Jan. 9, was not easy, either.
In the last week or so before the deadline, the group concentrated its campaign at local supermarkets and came up with more than the number required for a petition.
By Jan. 7, two days before the expiry of the deadline in Osaka, it had collected more than the 42,673 signatures needed. On the final day, the total came to about 61,000.
Toshikazu Morita, one of the representatives of the Osaka campaign, said the Tokyo campaign will likely succeed, too.
“All the initial plans failed in Osaka,” Morita, 57, said. “I believe it will achieve the goal if campaigners continue to work hard, making inroads in communities.”