Japan slow to take anti-terror measures at nuclear plants

By Eric Talmadge

National ( 35 )

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35 Comments

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  • -1

    Ivan Coughanoffalot

    What? Japan slow to act in any way, dragging its feet, mired in the status quo, until change is forced upon it from outside?

    I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.

  • 1

    Sherman

    I have been saying this for years. We even offered to carry out a mock attack to expose the weaknesses. But of course nothing happened. The guards there only have whistles. This country needs to wake up.

  • -9

    Schopenhauer

    We think we will not become a target of terrorists ... We are not hated by any... owing to our peace constitution. Article 9 says - Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

  • 1

    almostshat

    Glad to know that all preparations are now complete ahead of the North Korean rocket launch next month (?), should it inexplicably stray off-course and accidentally crash into one of the perfectly safe and well-protected nuclear reactors.

  • 4

    Eve Aphayboun

    “We are an island nation with an island mentality. We see ourselves as free from the possibility of terrorist attack”

    Sums it up. We once again see a case of Japanese pride defying logic and rationale. As previously posted.. they need to wake up- as this world, internationally, is a very different place than what they see on TV.

  • 9

    DoLittleBeLate

    Why worry about some terrorist attack? They could never match the damage done by the operators and regulators.

  • 0

    TheBigPicture

    The problems and concerns will be alleviated once we move on from nuclear.

  • 4

    zichi

    Schopenauer,

    what about home grown terrorists? Right wing extremists from North Korea or China.

    What would happen if a working reactor was hit by an airliner because of an accident or terrorist attack?

  • 4

    smithinjapan

    The saddest part is they're STILL dragging their feet.

  • 0

    Darren Brannan

    Pftt.. They still haven't put seawalls around the reactors yet. Don't expect them to safeguard the reactors from terrorists when they still can't follow their own safety mandates.... Oh and forget the reactors, what about the hundreds of tonnes of weapons grade plutonium that Japan has amassed since the reactors went down? It goes against international law to stockpile it but I really hope this is better protected than their reactors.

  • 1

    iceshoecream

    We have to imagine the unimaginable

    A bit late for that. Don't you think?

    We are an island nation with an island mentality. We see ourselves as free from the possibility of terrorist attack Dumbest comment I've heard in a long time. This guy probably lived his entire life in Disney World.

  • 2

    Darren White

    "Japan is a safety country" ...

  • 3

    iceshoecream

    We have to imagine the unimaginable

    A bit late for that. Don't you think?

    We are an island nation with an island mentality. We see ourselves as free from the possibility of terrorist attack

    Dumbest comment I've heard in a long time. This guy probably lived his entire life in Disney World.

  • 0

    Liberty Joe Lowe

    Schopenhauer, Zichi is correct I believe. The risks from extremists is there for sure although the odds of something crashing into one accidently are remote. There is higher risk of terrorisim if the target and lethal outcome is easy. Japan can't afford to make power stations an easy target and I believe protection against terrorism is essential.

  • 0

    escape_artist

    Bias in Japanese media 101.. Last Thursday another major English newspaper in Japan, in their online version, had a headline related to the above story that still reads "Anti-nuclear terror training facility opened to press". Not sure if the word placement was intentional or the editor is just clueless.

  • 2

    gogogo

    Japan is slow to listen to anyone.

  • 2

    smithinjapan

    "We have to imagine the unimaginable"

    That's pretty hard to do when you deny the imaginable.

  • 1

    kurisupisu

    How about dealing with the problems here and now ?

    It is simple; something that Is as dangerous as nuclear power is, should never be allowed to be compromised and the only way to do that is to abolish it........

  • 1

    mastertigurius

    @Schopenhauer

    Leaning on Article 9 as proof of Japan's peaceful coexistence with the rest of the world is simply naive. Japan provided fuel and logistical support for American warships in the Indian Ocean during the coalition attack on Afghanistan. It airlifted marines into combat zones - they were not going there to hand out free water to civilians...they were there to strike targets. Whether Japan wants to admit it or not, it has directly participated in war operations. Al Qaida and other terrorist groups could find plenty of reasons to make Japan a target, and the Diet should not try to sweep it under the rug.

  • -12

    Ivan Coughanoffalot

    I think Japan did the right thing by leaving its nuclear reactors vulnerable, despite repeated warnings by experts from overseas.

    After all, what's the worst that could happen?

  • 1

    zichi

    Even if nuclear energy was not used, it will take 100 years to decommission and dismantle all the NPP's and there would be even more nuclear waste that what there is at the moment.

  • -2

    JapanGal

    An airliner, can hit a shut down reactor and cause just as much damage as one up and running.

  • -5

    johninnaha

    So where are all these terrorists?

  • 0

    cactusJack

    TEPCO has no time for mother nature or terrorists.

  • 1

    combinibento

    We also know that terrorism has largely been absent from the island nations of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. (For all you who are about to 'thumbs down' me, this is sarcasm.)

  • 1

    gogogo

    The U.S. had repeatedly warned Japan about vulnerabilities at its nuclear plants in case of a Sept 11-style terror attack. It turned out Washington was right about the soft spots, but wrong about the enemy that would strike them.

    The enemy is TEPCO own stupidity and greed.

  • 0

    gonemad

    Even though we were aware of the issue and knew that they were taking steps, we didn’t do anything

    It's not the forst time he says something like this. It seems Madarame's entire carrer was based on this concept...

  • 1

    Cletus

    Im sorry but Japan seems very slow when it comes to anything to do with its nuclear reactors. Why is this of any great surprise.... Another case of incompetents leading incompetents....

  • -1

    Kiskipuich Vilaboa

    The enemy the terrorists are US gangsters who are in the government Check get informed

  • -10

    Ivan Coughanoffalot

    “We are an island nation with an island mentality. We see ourselves as free from the possibility of terrorist attack,” he said.

    Can anybody please explain to me what this means? The only possible interpretation I can make of it is:

    "We Japanese live on these islands, so we must be ignorant of anything that happens on any other islands".

    I'm sure that's not what this venerable leader means, though. Can anyone help me to understand?

  • -1

    Seavey

    Terrorists? I am far more worried about earthquakes and tsunami, thank you very much! Start talking about terrorists again when the earthquake and tsunami problems are solved. Damn.

  • -1

    johninnaha

    There are no terrorists!

    US paranoia!

  • -1

    Darren Brannan

    http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20120326p2a00m0na014000c.html given the subtle pressure from the USA and the current right-wing revival in Japan, things could very easily take a nasty turn. First the talk of terror, then the need to 'defend' against NK and China..who knows where things will head. Aum were certainly interested in nuke tech.

  • -2

    Akiko Fujishima

    Speak ill of another country to ignore the ill of your own.. every country has dragged it's feet on important things.. like the US president knowing about the terrorist attacks before they happened and did NOTHING.

    Saying the Japanese are full of pride is just another obvious misunderstanding.. They (we) are an island nation and have an island mentality, does not express pride. I love how people take a translation (without knowing how well or poorly it was done, because in Endo's original statement IN JAPANESE, is not how it's presented here.) and view it in the way that fits them. The US is not an island but definitely has an island mentality and that was proven so, when people were actually shocked about the terrorist attacks when they happened. As if no one would DARE attack the US.. puhleeeze.. O__O ~_^

    There is a difference of feeling secure because you actually do live on an island nation and share no boarders, and actually thinking you are an island and that no one can touch you. Japan, guilty of feeling overly secure, a bit, but certainly not pride. Don't get it twisted.

  • 0

    Maitake

    Akiko Fujishima

    The US is not an island but definitely has an island mentality and that was proven so, when people were actually shocked about the terrorist attacks when they happened.

    I love how you take a notion (without knowing how well or poor it is, because the average U.S. citizen does NOT have an island mentality) and view it in a way that fits you.

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