Japan?s Nuclear Safety and Security Policies Before and After the Fukushima Nuclear Incident

For over sixty years, Japan has faced a number of nuclear accidents that brought change to nuclear safety policy. Furthermore, the Fukushima nuclear disaster has changed Japan?s regulatory system largely. Japan did not have an independent regulatory committee prior to the Fukushima incident since Nuclear Safety Commission, which regulated nuclear safety, and Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, which promoted nuclear energy, were under the same ministry. After the incident, an independent regulation system, Nuclear Regulation Authority was established. Moreover, new stricter regulatory standards were established; therefore, it is getting more challenging for each nuclear power plant in Japan to resume operation under permission. The worst nuclear accident in Japan definitely led this change; however, these critical points had been already pointed out even before the Fukushima incident. The government and nuclear industry people knew that they needed to fix these problems; however, they did not. The Fukushima disaster became a wake-up call and generated enormous negative publicity about nuclear energy. Therefore, the government and workers at nuclear industry finally had to take actions to improve its nuclear safety policy. Similarly, Japan has been contributing to the improvement of nuclear security. But, it was the Fukushima disaster when Tokyo largely changed its nuclear security policy for countermeasures against nuclear terrorism. These security measures were proposed even before the Fukushima accident; however, not detailed measures had been implemented before. As a country which has stored a large number of nuclear spent fuels that could be targeted by terrorists, the Fukushima disaster made Tokyo realize the need to enhance nuclear security policy. Even though new regulatory authority and regulatory standards are largely contributing to the improvement of Japan?s nuclear safety and security policies, actual change will be depend on people in the government and nuclear industry. How the administration and workers at nuclear industry actualize these regulatory authority and standards are keys for the safety and security of nuclear materials in Japan. Moreover, public opinion and mutual surveillance among government and nuclear industry are essential to further improve Japan?s nuclear safety and security policies.