1. ‘Visible’ Reconstruction
2.
The 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17)
3. Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting
4. Prime Minister
Noda Attends ASEAN-Related Summits
5. Prime Minister
Noda Attends the G20 Cannes Summit |
|
JICC
Newsletter
No.7, December 2011 |
‘Visible’ Reconstruction
As Highlighted by the Establishment
of the System of Special Zones for Reconstruction, the Cold Shutdown
of the Reactors, etc.
Steps taken towards reconstruction
As we draw nearer to the end of 2011, we are continuing our
relentless efforts towards reconstruction following the Great East
Japan Earthquake [nine months ago]. Such efforts are paying
off. Japan is now on a steady path to recovery. In a little more
than a month after the Earthquake, the transportation infrastructure
in the affected areas, including the Shinkansen bullet train
system and expressways, was put back to normal for the most part.
For instance, Sendai Airport, which had been closed after suffering
extensive damage from the disaster, reopened on April 13. The
central government has taken major initiatives; On April 11, it
decided to set up an expert advisory body called the Reconstruction
Design Council, which includes the governors of the affected
prefectures.
In response to the Prime Minister’s instructions on April 12, on the
afternoon of April 17 Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced
the Roadmap towards Restoration from the accident at the Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. On June 7, the Government of Japan
released a report to be submitted to the IAEA Ministerial Conference
on Nuclear Safety later in the month. Also, it set up the
“Investigation Committee on the Accident at the Fukushima Nuclear
Power Stations of Tokyo Electric Power Company” to conduct a
thorough investigation. In September, the Government presented an
additional report (final Report) on the progress in dealing with the
nuclear accident since the IAEA Ministerial Conference in June on
the occasion of the IAEA Board of Governors and General Conference
in Vienna. It also held a briefing on the accident at the IAEA
General Conference.
On July 29, the Government finalized its basic guidelines for
reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, which was
formulated with the greatest possible respect for both the
suggestions of the Reconstruction Design Council in response to the
Great East Japan Earthquake and the opinions of the local
governments and other entities in the disaster-struck areas. Based
on these guidelines, the Government approved the third supplementary
budget, totalling 12.1 trillion yen, on November 21. On December 7,
it enacted the law aimed at creating a system for designating
“special zones for reconstruction.” Such designated zones will enjoy
preferential treatment to facilitate the reconstruction process,
including special measures for drastically streamlining regulations
and procedures (concerning, for example, land use and the granting
of fishing rights) and tax and financial incentives (an example of
which is waiving taxation for start-ups for the first five years of
business). Eligible local governments that seek to be designated as
a special zone will submit a reconstruction plan for government
approval and implement it if approved. Special measures and
incentives will be applied to both domestic and foreign enterprises
based on the non-discrimination principle. The Government of Japan
welcomes inward investment by foreign enterprises and visits to
Japan [by the people of your country] as partners for “open
reconstruction.” In this way, the Government of Japan has been
working hard with the affected local governments towards
reconstruction based on these basic guidelines. [As notified
earlier,] we will hold a memorial ceremony to commemorate the
first anniversary of the March 11 disaster with the themes of
remembrance, appreciation, and recovery around March 11 next year.
Let us reaffirm that, even during this process of reconstruction, we
would like to reiterate our sincere gratitude for the tremendous
assistance and condolences extended from all over the world.
Completion of “Step 2” of the Fukushima Daiichi
Roadmap
Steady progress towards reconstruction is also evident in the path
to the settlement of the accident at the TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi
Nuclear Power Station. In its report on the progress of the above
Roadmap on July 19, the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters (NERH)
confirmed that the goal of Step 1 of the Roadmap - to achieve steady
decline in radiation levels - had been achieved. NERH also amended
the roadmap itself so as to subdivide the goal of Step 2 - to put
the release of radioactive materials under control and significantly
hold down radiation levels - into ten targets (categories),
including the target of bringing the reactors to “a cold shutdown
condition” (a condition in which (i) the RPV bottom temperature is,
in general, below 100 degrees centigrade, and (ii) the release of
radioactive materials from the PCV is under control and public
radiation exposure from additional releases is being significantly
held down). In its 22nd meeting on December 16, the NERH announced
the completion of Step 2 as scheduled. It said that the reactors at
the TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station had been brought
to “a cold shutdown condition” and stabilized, thanks to the effort
and dedication of a countless number of people involved. On the same
day, the NERH’s Government-TEPCO Integrated Response Office was
replaced by the Government-TEPCO Meeting for Medium- to Long-term
Measures. This new body will formulate a mid- to long-term roadmap
based on which the organizations involved will engage in both work
in the field and research and development towards decommissioning
the reactors. We will continue to report on the progress regularly
and thus make ourselves fully accountable. We remain committed to
maintaining a safe and secure Japan.
Progress towards reconstruction in the eyes of the
world
Since the disaster of March 11, we have taken every opportunity to
ensure timely provision of accurate information to the international
community. At the same time, we have asked the international
community to act based on scientific evidence. As a result, a
growing number of countries and territories that had imposed
across-the-board restrictions on imports from any area, or broad
area, of Japan are now easing these restrictions. Likewise, many of
the countries and territories that had introduced restrictions on
travel to Japan in the wake of the disaster have lifted some or all
of these restrictions. Consequently, the number of foreign
travellers to Japan has been on a recovery track. The number for the
period from 12 to 31 March fell 72.7 percent from a year earlier.
The number in November represents only a 13.1 percent decrease
year-on-year, according to the latest figures available. These
objective data lend credence to the fact that Japan is on a steady
path to recovery and reconstruction.
We are rebuilding ourselves. And we remain committed to achieving
that goal. |