Author: Yuma Kuwata, Keio University

The panel started with discussion of the lessons learned from the nuclear accident in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant with Ms Ahn Chak-hee from jTBC as the moderator. Mr. Iwata Shuichi from University of Tokyo first claimed that we should organize the massive amount of data that we have collected from this incident for the people of next generation to use. Mr. Iwata suggested that it is also important to classify data collected to 6 categories. They are: observation science, experimental science, theoretical science, data science, societal science, and commune science.

Mr. Furukawa Katsu from Research Institute of Science and Technology for Society pointed out, lesson learned from this is that the manuals that we have created for emergency situation only looked good on paper, but flawed in reality. For example, the emergency manual were made in the premise that emergency diesel engine will stay powered after the reactor shut down. To avoid this from ever happening, we must rethink the risk assessment and create new international mechanism to smoothen out the international cooperation.

Mr. Hwang Il Soon from Seoul National University believed that many countries in Asia have something to learn about the incident of Fukushima because many countries such as Korea, have similar bureaucratic culture as Japan, and they historically look up to Japan in terms of development. Like Mr. Furukawa, Mr. Hwang suggested that international cooperation is vital to prevent this catastrophe of this magnitude from ever happening on the face of the earth, and Japan should take a leading role in creating such mechanism.

Lastly, Mr. Suzuki Tatsujiro from Japan Atomic Energy Commission focused on discussing the short term and long term affect of this nuclear accident. For short term affect, Mr. Suzuki showed his concern on energy shortage that would happen by next year if the local government decides to shut down every nuclear power plant because they are not satisfied with the safety standard of current nuclear power plant. For long term affect, he mentioned the major change in Japan’s energy security strategy from expanding its nuclear energy dependence to increasing renewable energy power usage and to enhance the safety standard of the present nuclear power plant and increasing the energy efficiency of the whole society.

* The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.
* The views expressed here are panel overviews of the Asan Plenum. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the author or the institutions they are affiliated with.