Hiroshima-Kaminoseki Link

Information updated on "Trends in various actors after nuclear accident." see >>> http://www.japanfs.org/en/energyshift.html...

The disaster at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant has highlighted the importance of nuclear energy to Japan and the power long wielded by the nuclear sector. But that influence now is sure to wane, to the relief of opponents who have fought for years to check nuclear's rapid growth.by caroline fraserRead the full story >>> http://e360.yale.edu/feature/japans_once-powerful_nuclear_industry_...

The renowned environmental website, mongabay.com, reported about Kaminoseki on 14th November. This is a link to the mongabay website:http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1115-japan_nuclear_uozumi.htmlMongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wildlands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging local and global trends in technology, economics, and finance on conservation and de...

Around 4km across the sea from the proposed site of the plant lies Iwai-shima Island. This island has a population of about 500 people, most of whom live in the island's one settlement which faces the proposed site. Around 90% of the inhabitants are opposed to the plant, and have refused to accept the financial inducements offered by Chugoku Electric Company. Since 1983, shortly after the proposed...

The area around Kaminoseki has several internationally important species. Finless porpoises live and rear young in this part of the Seto Inland Sea. Finless porpoise populations have been in decline in most parts of the Seto Inland Sea and there are currently only about 15% of 1990 numbers. However, in the area around Kaminoseki, numbers have been better maintained with around 40-90% of 1990 numbe...

The land reclamation that would take place as part of Chugoku Electric Company's proposal would be in Tanoura, a cove on the south side of Nagashima Island. This cove has a particularly rich fauna especially of molluscs. A study in 1999 found 183 species, 144 genera and 81 families in Tanoura. Of these, some are thought to be endemic to this location, such as Ceratia Nagashima, and eight species a...

Japan's nuclear power programme began in 1954 when 230 million yen was budgeted for nuclear power. The first plant began operation in 1966 in Ibaraki prefecture. Since that time, the industry has had strong government support and in 1973 nuclear power became a national strategic priority. Japan's industry was not affected as adversely as some countries by the Chernobyl accident and the Three Mil...

One major way in which fish and other marine species are affected by nuclear powers plants is when water from the sea is used for cooling. The proposed plants in Kaminoseki will take water from the sea to the north of Nagashima Island. When water is taken from the sea, all the organisms in that water, that are too small to be stopped by the filters, are killed. The number of young fish, larvae, an...

In 1999 Chugoku Electric submitted an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI). This EIA was criticised for making no mention of the finless porpoise population in the area or the Japanese lancelet. It also failed to mention that the area was a nesting ground for peregrine falcons, and overlooked rare shellfish species. MITI advised Chugoku Electric to car...

Chugoku Electric Company announced their plans for two ABWR 1,373MW nuclear power plants on Nagashima Island in Kaminoseki Town, Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1982. The proposed site is 300,000sq.km with about 40% of that to be reclaimed from the sea. The first reactor is scheduled to be in operation from 2018 and the second one from 2022. This is later than the original planned dates. The second reacto...