Nuclear Accidents and Leakage of Radioactive Materials at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

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Of all things relevant to the Great East Japan Earthquake, what drew the highest degree of attention from not only Japan but elsewhere around the world was the Fukushima Daiichi (No.1) Nuclear Power Plant’s nuclear power accidents that bears comparison with Chernobyl’s. During the subsequent four months, though this nuclear plant has not gone critical again, the leakage of radioactive materials from within the plant’s compounds continues. The possibility of another major accident happening, e.g. hydrogen explosion, breaking of containment vessel, in which radioactive materials would once again be strewed over the peripheral districts is not totally eradicated, albeit not so high. Given such a situation, the JDR Editorial staff has decided to examine the developments since the outbreak of the Great East Japan Earthquake and furnish the readers with updated information about developments leading to the outbreak of the accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and on debates that have since evolved in Japan. Thus, this presentation here could be termed a summarization of articles that have been carried in Japanese newspapers and magazines. It admittedly includes such information whose authenticity was not fully confirmed. The judgments and views expressed in this article represent the common ground shared by vernacular newspapers and magazines. As was the case with the previous issue of this journal, the judgments and views that represent the majority opinion in Japan are carried in this issue without modification. (K.J., July 11, 2011)