TOKYO —

Former Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leader Ichiro Ozawa laid down a political gauntlet on behalf of his new political party by announcing plans to abolish nuclear power in Japan within 10 years.

In July, Ozawa, 70, launched his new Kokumin no Seikatsu ga Daiichi (People’s Life First) party along with some 50 ruling party defectors, vowing to reduce the nation’s reliance on nuclear power.

Following Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s recent statement that nuclear power was necessary for now, Ozawa told a news conference at his new party headquarters on Wednesday that abolishing nuclear power was one of his party’s three main aims, TV Asahi reported.

Political analysts are speculating that Ozawa’s policy pronouncement has been timed to coincide with the run-up to the general election, which is thought to be on the horizon. The policy is likely to attract a lot of attention to his party and to prove attractive to the Japanese public who are becoming increasingly concerned about the use of nuclear power.

“After we take power, we will aim to decommission all nuclear power plants and drastically change Japan’s energy policy,” Ozawa said, adding that there have been no blackouts so far this summer—proving that the nation can get along without nuclear power.

He said that it would be possible to eliminate the country’s dependence on nuclear power within 10 years by enhancing the efficiency of current thermal power generation technology, promoting power-saving measures and by taking advantage of alternative energy sources, TV Asahi reported.

Ozawa’s two other stated policy priorities are to scrap the government’s planned consumption tax hike and to allow local governments to spend state funds at their own discretion.

“I am determined to take action to help revoke the bill for the consumption tax hike,” he said. “The tax increase bill has been forced through the lower house following a scenario written by bureaucrats and reneging on promises to the people. It will slow down consumer spending and hurt the economy.”

Japan Today

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  CrazyJoe at Aug. 02, 2012 - 02:09PM JST

  "if".

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  JaneM at Aug. 02, 2012 - 02:13PM JST

  Populism in its full bloom.

  Wonder how long it will take him to change his opinion IF he is elected.

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  Probie at Aug. 02, 2012 - 02:16PM JST

  He's only saying that because people are ranting on about it at the moment.

  bureaucrats and reneging on promises to the people

  That's what bureaucrats always do.

  If he's thinking he's said something really savvy there, he's drastically wrong.

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  namabiru4me at Aug. 02, 2012 - 02:26PM JST

  Yeah, right! We have all seen the political promises in Japan. This would get stalled in the diet and never go anywhere.

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  Tokiyo at Aug. 02, 2012 - 02:28PM JST

  Political analysts are speculating that Ozawa’s policy pronouncement has been timed to coincide with the run-up to the general election, which is thought to be on the horizon. The policy is likely to attract a lot of attention to his party and to prove attractive to the Japanese public who are becoming increasingly concerned about the use of nuclear power.

  Oh Reaaaallly now? Here I was thinking that he was saying it for the sake of the Japanese society and its people. He is usually so selfless and puts everyone else first. (I can't even type this sentence with a straight face)

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  ACrowe at Aug. 02, 2012 - 02:37PM JST

  Great idea. Wish it was coming from someone other than Mr. Pander Bear himself.

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  Bluebris at Aug. 02, 2012 - 02:45PM JST

  Who is going to pay for the promises he is making? The people who live here, that's who.

  Isn't it about time he was pensioned off?

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  Serrano at Aug. 02, 2012 - 02:48PM JST

  He's 10 years past retirement age.

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  TSRnow at Aug. 02, 2012 - 02:49PM JST

  Never can, never will.

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  Disillusioned at Aug. 02, 2012 - 03:16PM JST

  He said that it would be possible to eliminate the country’s dependence on nuclear power within 10 years by enhancing the efficiency of current thermal power generation technology,

  Ozawa said this? I'd like to see a clearly formatted plan for this before I'd believe anything that comes out of this criminal's mouth. Recent Japanese political history shows that these politicians will say anything to get into power and it is always just campaigning BS.

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  WilliB at Aug. 02, 2012 - 03:36PM JST

  Totally populist nonsense.

  Of course he can promise everything in the universe "within 10 years". When was the last Japanese PM who lasted even 1 year?

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  Vesperto at Aug. 02, 2012 - 03:36PM JST

  Demagogy as usual, and a big if.

  So if he wins, Japan must find a way to replace its 30% provided by nuclear, preferably a coal-free way, it's not being all that successful at the moment. And, within 10 years, quite a few people will lose their jobs.

  Right...

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  basroil at Aug. 02, 2012 - 03:52PM JST

  He said that it would be possible to eliminate the country’s dependence on nuclear power within 10 years by enhancing the efficiency of current thermal power generation technology, promoting power-saving measures and by taking advantage of alternative energy sources

  Right... does he even understand what the hell that means? The turbines themselves can only handle a certain amount of power, so increasing power means new turbines. Increasing efficiency means one of two things:

  1) You increase temperatures to increase cycle efficiency, and therefore increase pressures.

  2) You make it mixed cycle to increase plant efficiency at the cost of cycle efficiency

  The first is very hard to do, since you would be talking about 20MPa pressures for machines designed to run at 5MPa. This is of course assuming thermal boilers, in the case of gas turbines you deal with temperature increases large enough to melt even inconel. The second one requires both a plant layout that allows hybrid cycles, AND extensive retrofits.

  In the case of alternatives, what alternatives? Solar in Japan currently costs about 8x as much as nuclear, and replacing even just a quarter of nuclear production with solar (remaining split between "efficiency upgrades" and cuts), you are looking at 34 trillion yen in today's installed prices.

  Both options basically require brand new power plants, and require a massive amount of money. Where's he going to get all the money for that if he doesn't want taxes either?

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  ubikwit at Aug. 02, 2012 - 04:06PM JST

  the three-ring political circus is starting to get lively, with the showmanship and one-up-manship ooing and awing the spectating public.

  let's hope that something spurs enough of a participatory swell that the next vote is not simply a meaningless ritualistic exercise of going through the motions of having an election.

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  kazetsukai at Aug. 02, 2012 - 04:07PM JST

  I would venture to guess that it takes more than 10 years to come up with an alternative to nuclear energy regardless of how much money spent. I am no nuclear expert, but it probably takes close to 40 years to dismantle even one of the plants after several years of "powering down" one. When you add "politics" and "lobbying" to that, we may still add another 10 years. So a promise without a specific plan and outline with a definite schedule is obviously political grandstanding.

  For Ozawa to appeal to emotions without thinking things out really shows how out of touch he is with reality and facts, but also with the intelligence of the people of Japan. Even the protesters probably know better than to believe in such promises without a clear and definite plan with specific targeted objectives.

  Sad is the state of japan's politics.

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  smithinjapan at Aug. 02, 2012 - 04:35PM JST

  I seem to recall a lot of Ozawa/Hatoyama promises made in order to get elected that the government had zero intention of keeping even if it were plausible. Once again Ozawa is trying to play on public sentiment; once elected he'd say, "Due to previous administrations we unfortunately cannot, at present, act on our promise" and instead work on increasing sales in nuke technology to other nations as well as getting more plants here started up.

  I like how there's a third party in the lies at least.

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  basroil at Aug. 02, 2012 - 04:38PM JST

  kazetsukaiAug. 02, 2012 - 04:07PM JST

  but it probably takes close to 40 years to dismantle even one of the plants after several years of "powering down" one.

  Takes about 20 years after defueling to decommission and dismantle. Fuel rods usually take 10-15 years after defueling to be ready for transport or dry-casket storage. Some parts like the steam turbine and secondary coolant pipes usually can go after a few weeks though, unless it's PWR in which case you can do it as soon as it's cool enough to handle.

  It does take 10-20 years for a lab based experiment to become commercial, and in some cases research is scrapped because it makes no commercial sense (like the solar panel paint stuff that went nowhere after a decade already). Japan has no way to both meet necessary power demand and replace nuclear in the next ten years without either forcing consumers (not businesses) to cut back power 50%, raising prices 30%, or racking up massive debts that are larger than the net income of the energy companies over the last three decades.

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  NeoJamal at Aug. 02, 2012 - 05:01PM JST

  Good idea sir, may I ask how the substitute plants would be funded?

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  Yubaru at Aug. 02, 2012 - 05:45PM JST

  Ozawa will say anything to get elected. He would tell everyone he will walk on the moon if that would garner votes.

  The problem with him though is AFTER the election.

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  alliswellinjapan at Aug. 02, 2012 - 05:46PM JST

  What Ozawa is saying tells you exactly what the next election is going to be all about. LDP, DPJ and Komeito are likely to join hands proposing the exact opposite - pronuclear and pro-tax hike. Ozawa is seeking to present themselves as a trustable alternative. What Ozawa fails to mention here is their position on TPP. He needs to claim an anti-TPP position if he were to remain consistently against his opponents, but probably can't knowing Hashimoto is pro-TPP.

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  MrsT1 at Aug. 02, 2012 - 05:53PM JST

  He is such a snake - WHO would vote for this guy?!

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  Thomas Anderson at Aug. 02, 2012 - 08:09PM JST

  Vote Green Party!

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  presto345 at Aug. 02, 2012 - 08:21PM JST

  He said that it would be possible to eliminate the country’s dependence on nuclear power within 10 years by enhancing the efficiency of current thermal power generation technology, promoting power-saving measures and by taking advantage of alternative energy sources

  Balderdash.

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  Cricky at Aug. 02, 2012 - 09:46PM JST

  He has NO investment in this, 10 years he will be 80. Living off the millions that he has under his cushions. I personally feel his empathy for my family and my grandchildrens future, they will pay enough without this freak borrowing more for them to pay.

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  avigator at Aug. 02, 2012 - 10:12PM JST

  Sounds good to the ear. Where is the plan for replacement?

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  Serrano at Aug. 02, 2012 - 10:24PM JST

  "WHO would vote for this guy?!"

  You wouldn't believe how many Japanese would vote for this guy.

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  Serrano at Aug. 02, 2012 - 10:29PM JST

  "Where is the plan for replacement?"

  Don't need one! What with the Japanese population and economy shrinking...

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  YuriOtani at Aug. 02, 2012 - 11:09PM JST

  Yes the man who will say, do or knife anyone in the back to get elected.

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  Ash Warren at Aug. 02, 2012 - 11:17PM JST

  Time for people, particularly in Iwate to wake up and put this guy into retirement (preferably in a cell) where he belongs.

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  serendipitous at Aug. 03, 2012 - 12:24AM JST

  Yeah, and he'll save the world within 15 years..... not.

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  warnerbro at Aug. 03, 2012 - 12:50AM JST

  Sounds like a great plan. The time table's too ambitious, but a good start. However, Ozawa would promise to abolish all convenience stores in 10 years if he thought it would get him elected.

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  gelendestrasse at Aug. 03, 2012 - 01:29AM JST

  I very much doubt if Ozawa's numbers in power production lost will be offset by power production saved / gained. It's just more political pandering so that he and his "party" can get back to controlling the budget.

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  Spidey at Aug. 03, 2012 - 07:14AM JST

  Let the games begin!

  S

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  Ronald F Stark at Aug. 03, 2012 - 07:47AM JST

  I love politics in Japan! Its the best cure for constipation! Just seeing Ozawa's face on a poster gives me the squirts!

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  bajhista65 at Aug. 03, 2012 - 01:05PM JST

  Har...har...har.... Ozawa have inherited the USA kind of politicking... promises and lies.. To abolish nuclear energy in 10 years? har...har..har... All of Japan's Nuclear energy plant has been stopped similar to no nuke energy power plant until Noda bailed them out with trillions of yen and then re-start the nuke plants again. And 10 years plan to abolished? Nowadays Japan PM don't even last a year. Japan change PM like their underwears.

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  edojin at Aug. 03, 2012 - 03:28PM JST

  Let Ozawa run amuk and he'll shove Japan back into the Dark Ages ...

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  basroil at Aug. 03, 2012 - 05:27PM JST

  edojinAug. 03, 2012 - 03:28PM JST

  Let Ozawa run amuk and he'll shove Japan back into the Dark Ages ...

  Probably not back that far, but certainly back to steamboats and coal powered factories turning everything from Fukuoka to Tokyo black with smog.