The Sept. 9 decision by prosecutors to not indict anyone connected to the Fukushima nuclear accident only concluded that it is technically difficult to pursue legal responsibility of individuals for the disaster.
The Sept. 9 decision by prosecutors to not indict anyone connected to the Fukushima nuclear accident only concluded that it is technically difficult to pursue legal responsibility of individuals for the disaster. The Diet's Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission pointed out that the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant was "a man-made disaster." More than two years have passed since the reactor meltdowns at the site, but no progress has been made to determine who played what role in that disaster. That, in turn, led to ambiguities about who was responsible. In his pitch in Buenos Aires for Tokyo to host the 2020 Summer Olympics, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the situation at the Fukushima plant is under control and there are no health concerns. The reality, however, is that no work can begin on decommissioning the reactors at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. There is also the problem of the continuing leak of water contaminated with radiation from the plant. Given the gap between the confused situation at the Fukushima plant and the decision by prosecutors to not indict anyone, it is difficult to be convinced by the decision. Primary responsibility for the accident must lie with Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the plant. But since the central government worked closely with the electric power industry to promote nuclear energy as a "national policy managed by the private sector," it also bears major responsibility. None of the high-ranking government officials or executives of TEPCO who were deeply involved in promoting nuclear energy or who were in important posts at the time of the nuclear accident have truly apologized for their role and taken responsibility. In the absence of apologies or even reflection, there are now growing calls to resume operations at other nuclear plants and to export nuclear energy technology. If criminal cases had proceeded in court rooms, the roles played by individuals would have come under the spotlight. Even though that has not happened, something must be done so society can make clear where the responsibility resides. The only way to take responsibility on behalf of future generations is for people in various positions to hold discussions in order to question who was responsible for the accident and to change policy. *** Keiji Takeuchi is a senior staff writer of The Asahi Shimbun.