http://the-diplomat.com/2009/10/22/is-japans-future-sustainable/ Know The Diplomat, Know Asia Thu, 24 May 2012 01:55:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0-alpha http://the-diplomat.com/2009/10/22/is-japans-future-sustainable/comment-page-1/#comment-12127 Ralph Sato Sun, 05 Jun 2011 00:24:42 +0000 http://the-diplomat.com/2009/10/22/is-japans-future-sustainable#comment-12127 Japan's survivability not to mention its sustainability has become more urgent since this article was written because of the earthquake-tsunami and the resulting Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster in NE Japan. Most recently PM Kan Naoto has barely survived a no-confidence vote of the Diet by volunteering to resign when the Fukushima plant has been stabilized. The problem in my view is not that Kan underperformed but that the political system in Japan needs to be reformed to prevent the kind of political gamesmanship that causes the dysfunctional uncooperative behavior that made Kan's job much harder than it should have been. He made some exemplary policy changes in the face of huge uncertainty following the triple nuclear meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi such as the suspension of the dangerous Hamaoka power plant operations and the start of a much needed review of Japan's nuclear future. In the meantime, Kan did not interfere with Softbank president Masayoshi Son's plans to fund a massive solar power plan with various prefectural governments. Kan said he thinks Japan needs to move away from nuclear to solar and wind power generation of electricity. He is taking advantage of the crisis thinking to initiate a change in power policy to safer renewable energy sources which is a long needed change in Japan. The only country so far to have made use of the crisis atmosphere caused by Fukushima Daiichi has been the Federal Bundesrepublik of Angela Merkel. Japan’s survivability not to mention its sustainability has become more urgent since this article was written because of the earthquake-tsunami and the resulting Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster in NE Japan. Most recently PM Kan Naoto has barely survived a no-confidence vote of the Diet by volunteering to resign when the Fukushima plant has been stabilized. The problem in my view is not that Kan underperformed but that the political system in Japan needs to be reformed to prevent the kind of political gamesmanship that causes the dysfunctional uncooperative behavior that made Kan’s job much harder than it should have been. He made some exemplary policy changes in the face of huge uncertainty following the triple nuclear meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi such as the suspension of the dangerous Hamaoka power plant operations and the start of a much needed review of Japan’s nuclear future. In the meantime, Kan did not interfere with Softbank president Masayoshi Son’s plans to fund a massive solar power plan with various prefectural governments. Kan said he thinks Japan needs to move away from nuclear to solar and wind power generation of electricity. He is taking advantage of the crisis thinking to initiate a change in power policy to safer renewable energy sources which is a long needed change in Japan. The only country so far to have made use of the crisis atmosphere caused by Fukushima Daiichi has been the Federal Bundesrepublik of Angela Merkel.

]]> http://the-diplomat.com/2009/10/22/is-japans-future-sustainable/comment-page-1/#comment-4888 TKO Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:51:37 +0000 http://the-diplomat.com/2009/10/22/is-japans-future-sustainable#comment-4888 Why is wind power the sole measure of renewable energy?? If that is the case, then of course China and the U.S.,with its abundant land for use, be on top of the list. Japan is focusing on nuclear power since it just can't do much with wind. Solar is high on the list too, but nuclear is probably the top since Japan gets 30% of its power from it. Why is wind power the sole measure of renewable energy?? If that is the case, then of course China and the U.S.,with its abundant land for use, be on top of the list. Japan is focusing on nuclear power since it just can’t do much with wind. Solar is high on the list too, but nuclear is probably the top since Japan gets 30% of its power from it.

]]>