Parents and teachers in Fukushima Prefecture are skeptical about the government-set level of exposure to radiation for children, especially in relation to outdoor activities. They fear children's health may be affected by radioactive contamination from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The education ministry released a report to the Nuclear Safety Commission on Thursday concerning school yards at 55 locations where high levels of radiation had been detected. It also reported that after the top soil was removed at 41 locations, the radiation level dropped to 0.5 microsieverts per hour on average.
The report also said that all locations had radiation levels under the government-set 3.8 microsieverts per hour. The ministry has said that schools where this level is met can restart children's outdoor activities.
But many parents and teachers in the prefecture are skeptical about the standard set by the ministry.
They say exposure of 3.8 microsieverts per hour is too high compared to the long-term reference level recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.
All schools continue to refrain from outdoor activities or limit them to 1 to 3 hours per day.
The Nuclear Safety Commission member Seiji Shiroya says the standard should not be set unilaterally and that it should be established at a level all, including the parents, can accept.
2011年6月24日金曜日
2011年6月23日木曜日
Okinawa marks 66th anniversary of fierce battle
Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa is observing on Thursday the 66th anniversary of the end of fierce battles in the final days of World War Two.
About 5,000 people, including relatives of war dead, attended a ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, where the last of the major fighting took place.
The participants observed a minute of silence for the souls of the dead. More than 200,000 people, including one in every 4 Okinawa residents, were killed in the Battle of Okinawa between the now-defunct Japanese Imperial Army and US forces.
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima said in his peace declaration that the people of Okinawa continue to bear an excessive burden in hosting US bases, troubled by base-related crimes, accidents and noise.
Nakaima said he will continue pressing the governments of Japan and the US to quickly move the US Marine Corps Futenma air station outside Okinawa. He said he will also urge them to drastically revise the bilateral agreement on the status of US forces in Japan.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said it is truly shameful that Okinawa has yet to be relieved of the burden imposed by the US bases even 39 years after its reversion to Japan. He promised that the central government will do all it can to reduce the burden and danger from the bases.
Ahead of the ceremony, Kan offered flowers at a national cemetery in Itoman for those killed in the Okinawa battle.
About 1,200 people paraded the streets for about 8.5 kilometers to the memorial park in the 50th annual peace march.
About 5,000 people, including relatives of war dead, attended a ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, where the last of the major fighting took place.
The participants observed a minute of silence for the souls of the dead. More than 200,000 people, including one in every 4 Okinawa residents, were killed in the Battle of Okinawa between the now-defunct Japanese Imperial Army and US forces.
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima said in his peace declaration that the people of Okinawa continue to bear an excessive burden in hosting US bases, troubled by base-related crimes, accidents and noise.
Nakaima said he will continue pressing the governments of Japan and the US to quickly move the US Marine Corps Futenma air station outside Okinawa. He said he will also urge them to drastically revise the bilateral agreement on the status of US forces in Japan.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said it is truly shameful that Okinawa has yet to be relieved of the burden imposed by the US bases even 39 years after its reversion to Japan. He promised that the central government will do all it can to reduce the burden and danger from the bases.
Ahead of the ceremony, Kan offered flowers at a national cemetery in Itoman for those killed in the Okinawa battle.
About 1,200 people paraded the streets for about 8.5 kilometers to the memorial park in the 50th annual peace march.
2011年6月15日水曜日
Tokyo to measure radiation at 100 locations
The Tokyo metropolitan government has begun measuring radiation levels at 100 locations, to provide accurate information in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident.
The action comes after some individuals and municipalities found higher local radiation levels than those released by the metropolitan government.
The metropolitan government currently measures radiation levels at a 19-meter high monitoring post on the roof of a building in Shinjuku ward, central Tokyo, and releases the data to the public.
But it decided to make a more detailed assessment of radioactivity across Tokyo, by taking measurements near the ground.
On the first day of the survey on Wednesday, officials measured radiation levels at a park in Toshima ward.
The measurements were made at 5 centimeters and one meter above the ground, and the readings were 0.07 and 0.06 microsieverts per hour respectively. The figures were about the same level as the readings at the monitoring post in Shinjuku.
The Tokyo metropolitan government plans to finish measurements at 100 locations in about a week, and post the data on its website.
From next Monday it will also lend radioactivity counters to wards and cities across Tokyo.
The action comes after some individuals and municipalities found higher local radiation levels than those released by the metropolitan government.
The metropolitan government currently measures radiation levels at a 19-meter high monitoring post on the roof of a building in Shinjuku ward, central Tokyo, and releases the data to the public.
But it decided to make a more detailed assessment of radioactivity across Tokyo, by taking measurements near the ground.
On the first day of the survey on Wednesday, officials measured radiation levels at a park in Toshima ward.
The measurements were made at 5 centimeters and one meter above the ground, and the readings were 0.07 and 0.06 microsieverts per hour respectively. The figures were about the same level as the readings at the monitoring post in Shinjuku.
The Tokyo metropolitan government plans to finish measurements at 100 locations in about a week, and post the data on its website.
From next Monday it will also lend radioactivity counters to wards and cities across Tokyo.
TEPCO begins covering work for reactors
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has begun constructing giant frames to hold plastic sheets for covering the plant's damaged reactor buildings in an effort to prevent the spread of radiation.
The buildings of the No. 1, 3, and 4 reactors were severely damaged by explosions after an earthquake and tsunami hit the plant on March 11th. Radiation is still being released into the atmosphere.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, on Monday started assembling the first frame at a port some 50 kilometers away from the power plant. The frame will support a huge polyester cover for the No.1 reactor building.
TEPCO is prefabricating the frame to hold a sheet measuring more than 40 meters long, 40 meters wide, and 50 meters high. The goal is to minimize workers' exposure to radiation.
At Onahama port, workers were busy assembling the steel frame from gigantic pillars and beams with a 140-meter-tall crane.
TEPCO hopes to ship the frame to the plant by late July. It plans to assemble the same covering for the damaged No. 3 and 4 reactor buildings.
The buildings of the No. 1, 3, and 4 reactors were severely damaged by explosions after an earthquake and tsunami hit the plant on March 11th. Radiation is still being released into the atmosphere.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, on Monday started assembling the first frame at a port some 50 kilometers away from the power plant. The frame will support a huge polyester cover for the No.1 reactor building.
TEPCO is prefabricating the frame to hold a sheet measuring more than 40 meters long, 40 meters wide, and 50 meters high. The goal is to minimize workers' exposure to radiation.
At Onahama port, workers were busy assembling the steel frame from gigantic pillars and beams with a 140-meter-tall crane.
TEPCO hopes to ship the frame to the plant by late July. It plans to assemble the same covering for the damaged No. 3 and 4 reactor buildings.
2011年6月9日木曜日
Efforts to delay radioactive water leaks
Tokyo Electric Power Company continues to struggle to prevent possible leaks of highly-radioactive water that is accumulating at its troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
TEPCO plans to move an additional 2,700 tons of highly-contaminated water from the reactor buildings to an adjacent waste processing facility.
The move is an attempt to postpone by 5 days water overflowing from a tunnel outside Reactor 2. This could occur on June 20th if a new water-decontaminating system is not installed and in operation by next Wednesday.
The utility says it has already obtained the consent of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency for the plan.
The Agency says the measure is appropriate since there is no risk of the water leaking outside the waste facility.
More than 105,000 tons of highly radioactive water is believed to have accumulated in the reactor and turbine buildings.
The company says the amount is increasing by more than 500 tons daily as fresh water continues to be injected into the reactors in an attempt to lower their temperatures.
The utility says 14,200 tons of contaminated water will be stored 1.4 meters deep in the basement of the facility. After being decontaminated, the operator plans to use the water in the reactors as a coolant.
The company says it is determined to begin operating the water-decontaminating system by June 25th at the latest.
TEPCO plans to move an additional 2,700 tons of highly-contaminated water from the reactor buildings to an adjacent waste processing facility.
The move is an attempt to postpone by 5 days water overflowing from a tunnel outside Reactor 2. This could occur on June 20th if a new water-decontaminating system is not installed and in operation by next Wednesday.
The utility says it has already obtained the consent of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency for the plan.
The Agency says the measure is appropriate since there is no risk of the water leaking outside the waste facility.
More than 105,000 tons of highly radioactive water is believed to have accumulated in the reactor and turbine buildings.
The company says the amount is increasing by more than 500 tons daily as fresh water continues to be injected into the reactors in an attempt to lower their temperatures.
The utility says 14,200 tons of contaminated water will be stored 1.4 meters deep in the basement of the facility. After being decontaminated, the operator plans to use the water in the reactors as a coolant.
The company says it is determined to begin operating the water-decontaminating system by June 25th at the latest.
Survey: strontium widespread in Fukushima
Soil samples from around Fukushima Prefecture have revealed concentrations of radioactive strontium.
Japan's science ministry conducted a survey for radioactive substances at 11 locations in 10 municipalities from late March to mid-May.
It says strontium-90 was detected in all 11 locations.
In Namie Town, the reading stood at 250 becquerels per kilogram of soil, while in Iitate Village the reading was 120 becquerels per kilogram. The readings in the other locations were between 2 and 18 becquerels.
Strontium-90 is generated during the fission of uranium in fuel rods in reactors.
With a comparatively long half-life of 29 years, the radioactive substance poses a risk of accumulating in the bones if inhaled, because its properties are similar to those of calcium. If this happens, it could cause cancer.
The ministry says the survey revealed that strontium was detected even in the city of Fukushima about 60 kilometers from the plant, suggesting wide-spread contamination.
It says higher doses of strontium were spread northwestward from the plant, along with other radioactive substances, because of the prevailing winds.
The Nuclear Safety Commission says the detected doses of strontium were minimal, compared with those of cesium found in the region. It says the substance does not pose any immediate health threat.
Doctor Osamu Saito is a radiation expert at a hospital in Fukushima City. He says even though only small quantities of strontium-90 were detected in the survey, it still poses a high health risk because it can accumulate in the bones.
He is urging the government to increase the number of observation points throughout the prefecture, so as to help ease public anxiety.
The ministry says it is considering taking samples from additional locations in the next survey.
Japan's science ministry conducted a survey for radioactive substances at 11 locations in 10 municipalities from late March to mid-May.
It says strontium-90 was detected in all 11 locations.
In Namie Town, the reading stood at 250 becquerels per kilogram of soil, while in Iitate Village the reading was 120 becquerels per kilogram. The readings in the other locations were between 2 and 18 becquerels.
Strontium-90 is generated during the fission of uranium in fuel rods in reactors.
With a comparatively long half-life of 29 years, the radioactive substance poses a risk of accumulating in the bones if inhaled, because its properties are similar to those of calcium. If this happens, it could cause cancer.
The ministry says the survey revealed that strontium was detected even in the city of Fukushima about 60 kilometers from the plant, suggesting wide-spread contamination.
It says higher doses of strontium were spread northwestward from the plant, along with other radioactive substances, because of the prevailing winds.
The Nuclear Safety Commission says the detected doses of strontium were minimal, compared with those of cesium found in the region. It says the substance does not pose any immediate health threat.
Doctor Osamu Saito is a radiation expert at a hospital in Fukushima City. He says even though only small quantities of strontium-90 were detected in the survey, it still poses a high health risk because it can accumulate in the bones.
He is urging the government to increase the number of observation points throughout the prefecture, so as to help ease public anxiety.
The ministry says it is considering taking samples from additional locations in the next survey.
2011年6月8日水曜日
Okamis promote trips in Japan
A group of Japanese female innkeepers have appealed for people to make more trips around the country to increase the number of guests at inns and hotels.
The female innkeepers, or okamis, from 38 prefectures attended a promotional event at Shinagawa Station in Tokyo on Tuesday. The event was organized by an association of hotels and Japanese style inns in the country.
The okamis, wearing traditional happi costumes, handed out round fans to passersby and called on them to make sightseeing trips during the summer holidays.
The association says the number of overnight guests has decreased by about 20 percent from a year earlier, after the March 11th disaster. It also says some inn owners have been forced to close their businesses.
An okami from quake-hit Miyako City in Iwate Prefecture said her inn was flooded in the tsunami but that she was able to resume business in April. She said an increase in the number of travelers will help rebuild the affected areas.
Another, from Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture, said guest traffic has decreased in the wake of the nuclear accident in neighboring Fukushima Prefecture. She said that although her inn is open for business, there have been few guests so far this season.
The female innkeepers, or okamis, from 38 prefectures attended a promotional event at Shinagawa Station in Tokyo on Tuesday. The event was organized by an association of hotels and Japanese style inns in the country.
The okamis, wearing traditional happi costumes, handed out round fans to passersby and called on them to make sightseeing trips during the summer holidays.
The association says the number of overnight guests has decreased by about 20 percent from a year earlier, after the March 11th disaster. It also says some inn owners have been forced to close their businesses.
An okami from quake-hit Miyako City in Iwate Prefecture said her inn was flooded in the tsunami but that she was able to resume business in April. She said an increase in the number of travelers will help rebuild the affected areas.
Another, from Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture, said guest traffic has decreased in the wake of the nuclear accident in neighboring Fukushima Prefecture. She said that although her inn is open for business, there have been few guests so far this season.
Suicides top 3,000 in May
More than 3,200 people killed themselves in Japan last month, exceeding the 3,000 mark for the first time in 2 years.
The National Police Agency says the number of suicides totaled 3,281 in May, up 499, or 18 percent, from a year earlier.
By prefecture, Tokyo topped the list with 325 suicides, followed by 210 in Kanagawa and 206 in Osaka.
In areas hit by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, Fukushima saw an increase of 19 suicides to 68. The figure for Miyagi was unchanged at 50 while Iwate saw a decline of 3 to 32.
Until March, suicides had been on the decline since last year. The government had stepped up prevention measures, including opening numerous counseling counters.
After the disaster in March, however, the figure increased for the next 2 months.
The police agency says it does not know whether the disaster is related to the increase. It says it will make detailed analyses of individual cases in cooperation with the Cabinet Office and other ministries.
The National Police Agency says the number of suicides totaled 3,281 in May, up 499, or 18 percent, from a year earlier.
By prefecture, Tokyo topped the list with 325 suicides, followed by 210 in Kanagawa and 206 in Osaka.
In areas hit by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, Fukushima saw an increase of 19 suicides to 68. The figure for Miyagi was unchanged at 50 while Iwate saw a decline of 3 to 32.
Until March, suicides had been on the decline since last year. The government had stepped up prevention measures, including opening numerous counseling counters.
After the disaster in March, however, the figure increased for the next 2 months.
The police agency says it does not know whether the disaster is related to the increase. It says it will make detailed analyses of individual cases in cooperation with the Cabinet Office and other ministries.
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