Fukushima's wake

摘要

Japan will next year create a more independent nuclear-safety agency, scrapping its existing watchdogs - the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) and the Nuclear Safety Commission. Both currently sit within the pro-nuclear trade and industry ministry, but the new watchdog would sever ties with that ministry and might impose tougher regulations on nuclear plants, said Goshi Hosono, the minister in charge of the country's response to the Fukushima meltdowns. He announced the plan on 5 August; one day after the government had fired NISA's director and two other industry ministry officials.