A matter of trust

摘要

Nuclear fears-and their economic impact-spread far from Fukushima THE Kansai region of western Japan has an economy as big as the Netherlands, is home to two electronics giants, Panasonic and Sharp, and has in its biggest city, Osaka, a fun-loving rival to Tokyo. When Japan was hit by the Marchnth natural and nuclear disasters, Kansai thought it would do its bit for Japan by revving its economic engines. To its chagrin, however, it has found itself in a similar pickle to Tokyo. Kansai drew no nuclear power from the stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear-power plant. But its regional monopoly, Kansai Electric Power (kepco), has asked clients to cut energy consumption by 15% at peak times between July and September. Citizens risk a sweat-soaked summer without air-conditioning. Tokyoites are bracing for something similar. Unlike theirs, however, Kansai's leaders are in open revolt.