A local Shizuoka TV station has reported about a recent court case, where
the technician responsible for safety designs at the Hamaoka nuclear power
plants in Shizuoka prefecture explained why he altered safety data to
conceal design flaws.
A local Shizuoka TV station has reported about a recent court case, where
the technician responsible for safety designs at the Hamaoka nuclear power
plants in Shizuoka prefecture explained why he altered safety data to
conceal design flaws. “I had children and there was not enough time he
said.
33 years ago he worked at Toshiba, which built the reactors for Chubu
Electric Power Co. Today, he is 63 years old and lives in Tokyo . He has
recently been prosecuted for falsifying and altering safety testing data
related to earthquake tests.
The case revealed that when various vibrational tests were performed, data
showed that the design could not withstand a major earthquake. Several
attempts were made to strengthen the design, but tests still showed
problems. In spite of this, the construction went ahead and the building,
Hamaoka's second reactor, was completed in 1971.
Based on these tests, an additional three reactors were constructed,
including Japan 's largest nuclear plant which generates 1.38 MW. A total
of five nuclear reactors are now in the area, which experts say is “the
most dangerous nuclear power plant in Japan E
During the April, 2005 court case, the retired technician described how
test data was simply pulled out of a report, so that the construction could
go ahead. Had the data been made public, there is no way that the reactor
could have been built. Now, he accepts responsibility for what he did, and
wants the Hamaoka reactors to be shut down. He also says there should be a
third-party examination and investigation of the safety concerns.
For photos from the Shizuoka TV broadcast (2002-04-22), please click here:
http://senzafine.livedoor.biz/archives/19687228.html
Japan Offspring Fund has published more information about the Hamaoka
nuclear reactors, and we translated it to English. Please feel free to
distribute it.
Martin Frid
Seminar
On June 22, 2005 , Japan Offspring Fund is arranging a seminar with experts
on nuclear safety. The seminar will focus on safety issues and recent
revelations regarding the Hamaoka nuclear reactors. Speakers include Dr.
Katsuhiko Ishibashi, seismologist and professor at Kobe University and Mr.
Kiyoo Mogi, former president of the Coordinating Committee for Earthquake
Prediction, Japan. (Japanese only)
Title: “The effects on Tokyo from a nuclear disaster at the Hamaoka
reactors due to a major earthquake
Location: Shokuryu Kaikan Hall, Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku 3-3-6 , Tokyo
Time: 18:45-20:45PM
Subway stations: Kojimachi (Yurakucho line) or Hanzomon (Hanzomon line)
Admission: 500 Yen
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