Ensuring Nuclear Security in Japan: Policy and Activities of Japan Atomic Energy Commission

The 9.11 terrorist attacks in 2001 in the USA alerted the international community to the need to significantly enhance the protection of nuclear and other radioactive material from coming into the wrong hands of criminals or terrorists and being used in malicious acts. Japan Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), the statutory council on nuclear energy policy established in the Cabinet Office, has been shedding new lights on its policy and activities with regard to ensuring nuclear security in Japan in view of recent developments worldwide. In its “Framework for Nuclear Energy Policy” or the basic long-term policy for promoting nuclear energy utilization in Japan that was adopted by the AEC and endorsed by the Cabinet in October 2005, the AEC laid down the general policy concerning the protection of nuclear material and other radioactive material, emphasizing the importance of taking appropriate measures for nuclear security in line with the international developments including the revision of the international Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and continuing to review the Japan’s nuclear security system for its improvement. Accordingly, the AEC established in December 2006 the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Security (ACNS) to review the following points: 1) the basic policy for designing the effective and efficient nuclear security system based on the specific characteristics of nuclear and radioactive materials and their facilities concerned; 2) the basic policy for designing the effective and efficient nuclear security system based on the specific characteristics of high level radioactive wastes, such as vitrified wastes, and their facilities concerned; and 3) any other issues the AEC may specify. The author, being the Chair of the Advisory Committee, outlines the historical developments of Japan’s physical protection system, including the recent revision of domestic regulations in order to accommodate the requirements of INFCIRC/225 Rev.4, and reports the progress and the future directions of the Advisory Committee deliberations as well as the challenges Japan faces in the field of nuclear security.