Nuclear or not? The complex and uncertain politics of Japan’s post-Fukushima energy policy

摘要

In the wake of the Fukushima disaster, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan announced that Japan should meetnits energy needs without nuclear power plants. But his statement may have little relevance in the next administration.nThere is a complex power struggle underway over the future of nuclear energy in Japan involvingnpolitical, governmental, industry, and union groups. Despite the seriousness of the Fukushima crisis, Japan誷nhistorical commitment to nuclear power補nd a fuel cycle that includes reprocessing and breeder reactors裺tillnhas powerful supporters. Even with a scale-down of nuclear power, there is a possibility that thenpolicy of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel will continue as a matter of political inertia.