Former prime ministers Junichiro Koizumi and Morihiro Hosokawa have officially established an organization to abolish atomic power, but say they will avoid being directly involved in politics.
Former prime ministers Junichiro Koizumi and Morihiro Hosokawa have officially established an organization to abolish atomic power, but say they will avoid being directly involved in politics.
With gubernatorial elections later this year certain to focus on the nuclear energy issue, however, it might prove difficult for the team not to campaign for anti-nuclear candidates.
“Japan is an earthquake-prone country, and the government has not taken effective measures to protect nuclear power plants from terrorism,” Koizumi said in front of more than 300 people during the inauguration ceremony of the Japan Assembly for Nuclear Free Renewable Energy in Tokyo on May 7.
Koizumi, 72, added that it is a “blatant lie” that nuclear power is safe, cost-effective and clean energy.
Citing the crushing defeat of Hosokawa, 76, in the Tokyo gubernatorial election in February, Koizumi said, “We lost a battle but are standing up with an unyielding spirit to create a nuclear-free country.”
Hosokawa, who serves as the representative of the nonprofit, general incorporated association, said 60 percent of Japanese oppose bringing reactors back online and 80 percent support the eventual abolishment of nuclear power.
“It is utterly wrong for the current government to push for the restart of nuclear power plants. It contradicts Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s promise that his government will lower the country’s dependence on nuclear energy,” Hosokawa said.
“We must turn to renewable energy to create a society without fear of radiation contamination.”
The co-founders of the organization include philosopher Takeshi Umehara, writer Jakucho Setouchi, scholar Donald Keene and Katsunobu Sakurai, mayor of Minami-Soma, Fukushima Prefecture.
About 30 influential people, including celebrities such as actress Sayuri Yoshinaga and Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ennosuke, also listed their names as official supporters.
During the symposium on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony, Reiko Yukawa, a music critic and one of the co-founders of the organization, proposed that the group commit itself to supporting candidates who oppose nuclear power in the Fukushima Prefecture gubernatorial election in November and other local elections. The nuclear issue is also likely to be contested in the July race for Shiga Prefecture’s governorship.
After the talk, however, Koizumi told reporters that he is wary to get involved, saying “Elections can cause power struggles and friction” within the group.
Hosokawa agreed, saying that the aim of the group is to create a national-level movement to abolish nuclear power.
The organizers said that the group’s first commitment will be organizing events to screen anti-nuclear films and small-scale discussion meetings for residents living close to nuclear power plants.