Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Nuclear disaster task force kept no records of meetings

National Jan. 23, 2012 - 09:00PM JST ( 62 )

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62 Comments

-28

j4p4nFTWJan. 23, 2012 - 02:21PM JST

This is good. It shows that they are in disaster mode and being as efficient as possible. No need for notes, everything the public needed to know was communicated clearly to the public.
5

FadamorJan. 23, 2012 - 02:22PM JST

I might understand no records of meetings during the first few days while posts were getting filled, but no records AT ALL!? That's a fail.
9

zichiJan. 23, 2012 - 02:25PM JST

Just another failure, in a very long list of government failures in dealing with the nuclear disaster.
8

Johannes WeberJan. 23, 2012 - 02:32PM JST

I wonder: is Japan to poor to simply afford a few video cameras to record the meetings so that some small employee can write the protocol according to the video later? Or is there any particular reason against it? Like politicians being shy in front of cameras? Having no time for the daily makeup in case of an emergency? No electricity in the meeting rooms?

The process of decision-making must be understandable later on. Tapes need not be public and certain things might be blackened out (if they concern they safety of living persons), but transparency is essential to a democracy. On the other hand - that last line implies that Japan doesn't need it so much after all.
4

smithinjapanJan. 23, 2012 - 02:38PM JST

"The Cabinet Office, in charge of keeping all public records, said it has told the agency to study what it can do to create a written record of the decision-making processes."

I hope they form a panel to try and figure out how they can do this -- I mean, you need a bunch of overpaid, lazy, unqualified bureaucrats and/or politicians to waste a heap of money figuring out how to push record on an audio recorder, or push record on a video camera.
-25

j4p4nFTWJan. 23, 2012 - 02:39PM JST

Mr Weber,

No, we don't need nor want transparency. It is too much of a burden for us to know the inner working of government. Leave it to them, they are the expert. If a person wants to know such things they can run for office.
12

hoserfellaJan. 23, 2012 - 02:48PM JST

Makes perfect sense. If you have no one to record what was done, you escape blame for having done nothing but freeze in panic and indecisiveness.
2

as_the_crow_fliesJan. 23, 2012 - 02:52PM JST

This is good. It shows that they are in disaster mode and being as efficient as possible. No need for notes, everything the public needed to know was communicated clearly to the public.

No, we don't need nor want transparency. It is too much of a burden for us to know the inner working of government.

Japan: your faith in the Japanese government is touching. I think you are either a) a lone voice in a minority of one b) on hire from the government/TEPCO to post on forums like this. After all, they planted people at public hearings on nuclear power or paid them to send in pro-reactor emails or voice pro-reactor opinions at public meetings for years. c) joking
5

Darren BrannanJan. 23, 2012 - 02:53PM JST

You think this is bad!!?? A 'worst case scenario' briefing was handed to Kan and Hosono and they not only made it go away, they pretended it had never existed. Unforgivable!!
0

Andrew MatthewsJan. 23, 2012 - 02:53PM JST

...has no minutes of the meetings that approved the evacuation of people living near the exploding reactors.

Exploding? Then unless my concept of the laws of thermodynamics is way off, they are exploding at the very same speed that glass is congealing.

I would trust the reporting if it described things with a little less hysterics.
3

UtrackJan. 23, 2012 - 02:54PM JST

Is this a coverup on a massive scale or is it just confidential information cause I can not believe no recorder was recording any of these meetings even to just clarify who said what to who.
6

CletusJan. 23, 2012 - 02:57PM JST

j4p4nFTW

No, we don't need nor want transparency. It is too much of a burden for us to know the inner working of government. Leave it to them, they are the expert. If a person wants to know such things they can run for office.

Of course you dont want to know what is going on because then you would actually realise how much your government has erred in its handling of this whole situation. Sadly this disaster has been handled shockingly from day one and it continues up until today, in any other country had this have occurred we would have seen a completely different reaction from the government and the citizens but thats the problem in Japan and j4p4nFTW sums it up perfectly in their post. The people of Japan are to weak and reliant on the government telling them what to do to demand answers of their own.

If you want to be a mushroom good for you, l would prefer information about what affects me. And the fact that the government didnt keep records shows at best they are incompetent and at worst negligent and hiding the facts.
0

ElvensilvanJan. 23, 2012 - 03:02PM JST

which also decided on the banning of foodstuffs from the area

So it means that they're holding quite short meetings, as long meetings tend to make one hungry quite fast.

Or ... does it mean that they're holding their meetings in an izekaya, and they only order drinks? =D
2

marcelitoJan. 23, 2012 - 03:02PM JST

Wow..what an incredibly convenient oversight - who would have tought?...cough cough..
-15

j4p4nFTWJan. 23, 2012 - 03:04PM JST

l would prefer information about what affects me.

That is a cultural difference, and I respect that. But for Japanese we only need to know what is enough.
1

MaboDofuIsSpicyJan. 23, 2012 - 03:05PM JST

What is the big deal. Superior intellect and photographic minds are all that was necessary.
3

Ben_JackinoffJan. 23, 2012 - 03:06PM JST

Well, they certainly do seem to know the meaning of the word disaster.
3

ElvensilvanJan. 23, 2012 - 03:09PM JST

But for Japanese we only need to know what is enough.

May I ask, exactly how much information is considered "too much"?
4

CletusJan. 23, 2012 - 03:13PM JST

j4p4nFTW

"l would prefer information about what affects me." That is a cultural difference, and I respect that. But for Japanese we only need to know what is enough.

Indeed it may be a cultural difference, you see where lm from if this tragedy happened the people would demand answers, the government and those involved would be held accountable. And we do not have blind faith in what we are told we look for information especially when it is something that affects us as a people. To passively sit back and do nothing and make the sort of statements you have allows the government to continue to treat its citizens with contempt and keep them in the dark.
1

Thomas SmithJan. 23, 2012 - 03:21PM JST

Not a failure, not expediency.. This was a way to slough repercussions for incorrect or in-action before the fact.
-12

j4p4nFTWJan. 23, 2012 - 03:24PM JST

you see where lm from if this tragedy happened the people would demand answers, the government and those involved would be held accountable

It is better that harmony is maintained.
5

NetNinjaJan. 23, 2012 - 03:33PM JST

Deliberate and intentional. Japan.....how many lies can you take to the face? Disgusting. I guess it's an effective technique cause I'm getting tired of hearing about it and reading about it. Bold face lies. You don't have a chance in court.

We don't need to do any more criticizing. It's useless. Go in there and pull them out of their offices feet first and hand them over to an angry mob.
8

CletusJan. 23, 2012 - 03:34PM JST

j4p4nFTW

"you see where lm from if this tragedy happened the people would demand answers, the government and those involved would be held accountable" It is better that harmony is maintained.

Thanks for confirming something for me you are either a troll and have a major screw loose. No one in their right mind would say that comment.
5

cactusJackJan. 23, 2012 - 03:40PM JST

no notes = no evidence = no liability
3

ExportExpertJan. 23, 2012 - 03:45PM JST

Sloppy, unprofessional, standard behaviour here unfortunately.
2

LagunaJan. 23, 2012 - 03:54PM JST

90% of it was probably just loud sobbing anyway.
1

gogogoJan. 23, 2012 - 04:05PM JST

No records? Nothing happened... no meetings... what a waste of tax payers money!
4

Samantha Zoe AsoJan. 23, 2012 - 04:35PM JST

Sad to say but.... I am not surprised. Since March 11th, I feel gradually my family and I have been slipped into circumstances that pre March 11th, would have been just unacceptable on so many different levels. Does anybody else feel like that? Is is me? I've run a gauntlet of emotions from terror to anger( the day I found out that despite protests from myself and other parents) contaminated food had been served to my kids in their school dinners. Information being released after the fact when you can't do anything about it. How is Tokyo going to fare if/ when the 'big one' hits?
8

smithinjapanJan. 23, 2012 - 04:36PM JST

j4p4nFTW: "That is a cultural difference, and I respect that. But for Japanese we only need to know what is enough."

I don't know that many Japanese would appreciate you claiming that ignorance is a Japanese cultural norm.
4

tmarieJan. 23, 2012 - 04:42PM JST

Oh shocking!!! The government hasn't left a paper trail of their inability to deal with the crisis... Much easier this way to argue who is at fault and who was supposed to do what.

As usual, pathetic.
2

smithinjapanJan. 23, 2012 - 04:53PM JST

And is anyone going to be punished for this? My guess is a big 'no'.
2

NoripinheadJan. 23, 2012 - 04:55PM JST

This is sounding too much like an episode of "The Simpsons."
8

Samantha Zoe AsoJan. 23, 2012 - 05:13PM JST

j4p4nFTW- 'Harmony' is that what you honestly see for Japan's future?

I think you just like posting comments to try to bait people. For a lot of folk, Japanese and otherwise, particularly those who have invested their lives here and for those who have young children, I am sure we all want to know as much as possible so we know what we are dealing with. What situations we might be dealing with in the near or distant future.
2

HategoboJan. 23, 2012 - 05:13PM JST

The fact that there are no records of meetings is rather convenient if in the future you need to deny anything."Dont feed the troll" needs to be kept in mind on this particular forum regarding some of the off the wall stupid remarks.
4

DisillusionedJan. 23, 2012 - 05:22PM JST

I can't think of a better way to cover up their dithering and bungling. No records = No blame. Well done guys!
2

cracaphatJan. 23, 2012 - 05:25PM JST

They're not stupid are they ? Can't be called out on the number of meetings they had ,but to end up resolving nothing.
3

some14someJan. 23, 2012 - 05:36PM JST

Democracy at work :(
1

Dennis BauerJan. 23, 2012 - 05:47PM JST

@some14some

Democracy at work :(

another disinformmation from the government!
9

Nicky WashidaJan. 23, 2012 - 05:50PM JST

These meetings were not recorded for the very simple reason that they didnt WANT anyone to know their decision-making processes. Pure and simple. Dont know why anyone is even surprised when you think about the kind of people we are dealing with.
3

tokyokawasakiJan. 23, 2012 - 05:56PM JST

Nicky, once again we seem to be on the same page :)
2

TokyoGasJan. 23, 2012 - 06:52PM JST

Another jaw dropper from this tragedy.
1

Samantha Zoe AsoJan. 23, 2012 - 07:01PM JST

Nicky- Sounds right. No records. No accountability. Sickening.
1

Vernie JefferiesJan. 23, 2012 - 08:22PM JST

No minutes.....hmmmmm...... or did they hide or erase the records Watergate Style
2

Rick KisaJan. 23, 2012 - 08:46PM JST

being in crisis mode does not mean you do not keep records. Assuming you die during a crisis, how will others to take over you know where to begin from. This is highest order of unprofessionalism!! so, at the end of the day, nothing was planned...just knee-jack stuff throughout..and nobody is losing sleep or job for this! Long live Jpan.
1

Charles M BurnsJan. 23, 2012 - 08:57PM JST

Oh come on. This is pathetic. All public meetings are recorded.
2

Blair HerronJan. 23, 2012 - 09:48PM JST

At least one record/document was kept and hidden by the government.

The government had a worst-case scenario for the Fukushima nuclear crisis written by Japan Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Shunsuke Kondo on March 25, 2011. After the document was shown to a small, select group of senior government officials at the prime minister's office, Kan decided to quietly bury it. "The content was so shocking that we decided to treat it as if it didn't exist," a senior government official said. In order to deny its existence, the government treated it as a personal document of Kondo's.

The projection was based on a scenario in which a hydrogen explosion would tear through the No. 1 reactor's containment vessel, forcing all workers at the plant to evacuate because of the ensuing lethal radiation levels. The document said that in such an event, residents within a radius of 170 km of the power station, and possibly even further away, would be forced to evacuate. Those living within a radius of between 170 km and 250 km of the plant, including Tokyo, could chose to evacuate voluntarily.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120122a1.html
3

hatsoffJan. 23, 2012 - 10:08PM JST

Basic crisis management / project management tells you that records are needed so you can later analyze the decisions made and the decision-making process, and measure that against the outcomes for the purpose of improving your future responses by seeing what worked well and what didn't. You then archive that information so future generations (managers, leaders, whatever) can learn from it too.

Of course, having records means people can be held to account and - surprise, surprise, that's not possible here. So we also have no record of the data they were party to, e.g. the SPEEDI data that was never released to prefectural governments. We'll never know the discussions that took place and who argued for witholding the information. We'll never know who, if anyone, opposed implementing sytematic testing of foodstuffs, or who, if anyone, insisted that random testing would suffice.

Many residents were washed away because stone markers in the ground indicating the reach of a previous tsunami were ignored and evacuation centres were located closer to the sea. The expression "Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it" clearly doesn't resonate with our esteemed leaders.

On another note, let's all stop feeding the troll. I've NEVER heard a real Japanese person say something like "It is better that harmony is maintained." Never in that manner. This is some juvenile (probably not even in Japan) who has read too many books on Japan and enjoys playing cultural stereotypes.
3

herefornowJan. 23, 2012 - 10:08PM JST

The confirmation came after public broadcaster NHK said Sunday that the agency failed to record the exchanges and decision-making process in the meetings because officials were too busy.

Wow, talk about insulting, but so typical of elected officials and bureaucrats in Japan. First they insult the citizens by doing all this in secret, when one of the DPJ's campaign campaign pledges was "transparency" and returning government to the people. (Like Japan even knows what that means). But then they add insult to injury by assuming the people will believe a BS excuse like "too busy". Just about defines the term arrogance. And these are supposedly "public servants". LOL.
1

smithinjapanJan. 23, 2012 - 10:27PM JST

herefornow: Exactly! Japanese government and lack of ability to do anything in a nutshell.
1

Blair HerronJan. 23, 2012 - 10:57PM JST

There's no record of meetings maybe because having meetings were impossible since PM Kan had become crazy.

Former vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ikeda Motohisa has kept a memorandum from March 11 to March 16. That says Kan was panicky, shouting and yelling at everybody.

March 11 at 10pm, Kan was told by NISA that meltdown could occur. March 12 at 1:30am, Kan told TEPCO to "VENT the reactor". TEPCO was slow and Kan was frustrated. At 6:14am, Kan started yelling at everyone and said, "What is going on? I myself will go there and see what the hell TEPCO is doing." He took SDF helicopter and flew to Fukushima nuclear plant. There, he yelled at the workers at the plants, "Do you understand why I am here? (because you guys are slow)" When he returned to his office, he was irritated and yelled at his secretaries and NISA officers, "If things go wrong, it's ALL YOUR FAULT!!!" March 14 evening, when the plant manager Yoshida told TEPCO head office that most of the workers should be evacuated. March 15 at 4 am, Kan told TEPCO former president Shimizu to come to the PM's office and yelled at him, "What the hell is going on? Evacuate the workers? No. Impossible! TEPCO will go bankrupt." Then Kan went to TEPCO head office and yelled at the executives, "Prepare for the worst." After he returned to his office he was shouting, "STUPID TEPCO!!!"

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/news/111223/plc11122323070019-n1.htm
2

hatsoffJan. 23, 2012 - 11:15PM JST

Blair, what you document above - that Kan was frustrated at TEPCO's slow response, angry at NISA officers, at former TEPCO president Shimizu wanting to run away from a growing crisis rather than deal with it, storming into TEPCO's offices shouting at the executives to prepare for the worst....Kan's reaction to these people, who were all supposed to be the nuclear experts remember, sounds absolutely like he had his finger on the pulse and knew exactly who wasn't pulling their weight.

I do feel sorry for the secretaries though.
2

zichiJan. 23, 2012 - 11:47PM JST

Kan Administration Declared the Fukushima Accident Worst-Case Scenario Report "Didn't Exist" After Reading It

http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2012/01/kan-administration-declared-fukushima.html
4

jforceJan. 23, 2012 - 11:56PM JST

Get out of big cities while you can - especially Tokyo and anywhere in the vicinity. There are legit communities that need good people and I can tell by the comments there are a lot of you out there that would benefit from a trip to inaka. We're waiting for like-minded, civil people.
2

Blair HerronJan. 24, 2012 - 12:47AM JST

Get out of big cities while you can - especially Tokyo

University of Tokyo Estimates 70% Chance 7.0 Earthquake To Hit Tokyo Within 4 Years

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/01/23/university-of-tokyo-estimates-70-chance-7-0-earthquake-to-hit-tokyo-within-4-years/
1

gelendestrasseJan. 24, 2012 - 02:21AM JST

Wow, this is an epic failure. I can't think of a single government meeting of a group of people that doesn't have public minutes issued. A meeting of Yakuza might not have written notes, but a government panel? Unbelievable....
0

Patrick McPikeJan. 24, 2012 - 02:58AM JST

j4p4nFTWJAN.

It is better that harmony is maintained.

Your "Harmony" is a facade. Japan is rapidly coming apart. Things that don't adapt, go extinct.
-1

888naffJan. 24, 2012 - 04:28AM JST

Formula one engineering high pressure tight timescales not enough hours in the day method or No accountability?

..would hope the first reason, although having seen Japanese f1 engineers when they joined the sport they did like their meetings, ..old habits and all that.
0

FadamorJan. 24, 2012 - 04:38AM JST

The only problem with videoing the meetings, is that someone would then "accidentally" erase the video before it could be transcribed. Fourteen "gomennasai"s later, they'd be in the same boat they're in now.
0

almostshatJan. 24, 2012 - 09:37AM JST

The farce continues. Laugh? I almost shat
0

NessieJan. 24, 2012 - 10:24AM JST

They should have budgeted for a dog. One of the ones that likes to eat homework.
0

warnerbroJan. 24, 2012 - 11:19PM JST

I really don't believe that. They kept records and destroyed them or they kept records and are hiding them.