Saturday, December 15, 2012

(Updated) Japanese Election: Low Turnout So Far, Likely to Benefit Large, Established Parties


The voter turnout as of 2PM was 27.4%, says Yomiuri Shinbun, 7.79% lower than in the 2009 election.

People on Twitter are reporting a huge turnout, despite the media report. I asked my parents how crowded the polling station was. They both said it was very crowded.

We'll see soon enough.

====================================

Kyodo News is reporting that the number of voters who have cast their votes as of 11AM on December 16 is running lower than the previous Lower House election in 2009, when the Democratic Party of Japan won in landslide.

From Kyodo News (12/16/2012; part):

第46回衆院選は16日午前7時から、全国各地の投票所で投票が始まった。総務省発表の午前11時現在の投票率は全国平均で14・03%。前回の21・37%を7・34ポイント下回った。

Voting for the 46th election of the Lower House started at the stations all over the country at 7AM on December 16. The voter turnout as of 11AM is 14.03% (national average), 7.34 points lower than the last election's 21.37%.


The so-called "third pole" parties have failed to make their cases to the voters, including Boy-wonder's party (Japan Restoration Party) and Ms. Yukiko Kada's Japan Future Party. They were all caught flat-footed when on November 14 Prime Minister Noda announced the dissolution of the Lower House and called the election in December 16, (at least) several months earlier than they had anticipated.

Ms. Kada's party which many net citizens continue to have high hopes for its stance on nuclear power disappointed me for the lack of specificity on its "graduating from nuclear" platform and extremely weak policies on just about everything else (see my posts, here and here).

I recently learned that Ms. Kada as the governor of Shiga Prefecture, which sits right next to Fukui Prefecture with "Nuclear Ginza Boulevard", ditched the fixed monitoring stations for radioactive materials and replaced them with one mobile monitoring vehicle, 6 months before the Fukushima accident. Her reason? "Why waste money?" The single monitoring car has been monitoring locations in Shiga Prefecture ever since the nuclear accident.

Well she can keep the money. I hope she won't come to the national politics.

Japanese Election OT: Just Wondering How Taro Yamamoto Is Faring in Tokyo's 8th District...


About 8 more hours of voting time left (until 8PM) in Japan.

Taro Yamamoto, the actor turned anti-nuclear activist who has been not just against nuclear power plants in general (like Japan Future Party and others) but against disaster debris burning, against contaminated food, against keeping children in Fukushima Prefecture and who is in favor of spending everything to clean up the mess even if it means national bankruptcy is running for office from the 8th District in Sugimani-ku, Tokyo.

Kenji Sawada, known as "Julie" for generations of fans since 1960s, showed up in one of Yamamoto's campaign events on December 14, and urged the excited audience to vote for this "fine young man" who has stepped up to the plate to stop the nukes.

I remember Yamamoto saying in one of the TV variety shows last year, "We should do everything, spend all the money necessary, to clean up this mess, help people and children in the affected area. Even if the country goes bankrupt as the result, as long as we have people, we can start again." He was roundly ridiculed by other guests at that time, as "unrealistic", as someone who didn't know anything about economics.

It made sense to me.

One of my favorite songs by Julie, from 1971, when he was a teenage girls' "idol". How time has passed. He still sings today, just like this, in the same key.


Toward the wind
Wearing leather shoes
We walk side by side
On a long road

My map is torn
No one here to give me a new one
So we walk, holding each other around the shoulder
On a long road

When you feel down
I will sing you a song
Carrying you across the sea at night
I will be the boat

Japanese Election: This Is Not Your Father's LDP


Probably not your grandfather's LDP either.

Liberal Democratic Party, which is neither "liberal" nor "democratic", has always been a party of convenience and compromise: pro-business as long as the party can control the business and receive donations, wearing "nationalism" on its sleeve when convenient, and pro-nuclear as long as citizens pay for it.

But now, it has a decidedly different look this time around. Many second-generation, third-generation LDP politicians have clearly started to believe in their own rhetoric.

An aerial photo by Mainichi Shinbun of the last night of the LDP campaign, in Akihabara, Tokyo, indeed shows Abe's LDP is very popular:


People on the ground reported they had never seen so many flags (link):


LDP's PR agency, whoever it is, did a clever job of selecting the main stage right in front of the Gandum Cafe (link):


I'm not too worried about the flags. After nearly 70 years of having been told, by your public elementary school teachers onward, that the Japanese flag is something that you should be ashamed of and shun, there is going to be a reaction to the other extreme.

And for the majority of Japanese to whom the nuclear accident doesn't mean a thing as they eat food from the contaminated areas in Tohoku and Kanto, all they care is about economy, economy, economy, even though they remain extremely ignorant about how the economy and finance actually work. To them, Mr. Abe's harebrained idea of forcing the central bank to print money to create just the right amount of inflation sounds very sophisticated and wise.

My tweets about what has happened in the US since the central bank started to massively intervene in the financial market fall on deaf ears, even among anti-nuclear followers. It's practically a religion in Japan that "deflation" is bad and "inflation" is good. They do not want to hear that under the monetary inflation caused by excess amount of mis-priced money in the system the intangible assets (like stocks) may rise but the wages may fall while the price of essential items like food and gas may rise.

The Japanese often talk about learning from the past and learning from the others.

They are good at talking.

The voting will start at 7AM on December 16 in Japan.

Friday, December 14, 2012

LDP Leader Shinzo "Curry Rice with Pork Cutlet on Top" Abe Scolds Old Man Who Scolded Him for Grabbing JR Train Seat, Barks at the Man, Then Pretends to Be Asleep


A rich, spoiled third-generation brat of a politician and former prime minister with a chronic stomach problem was in Shizuoka Prefecture, giving campaign speech, when he was confronted by an angry elderly citizen...

As Asahi Shinbun reported (cache, 12/14/2012):

15・30 自民党の安倍総裁が遊説のため、静岡県内をJR東海道線の普通列車で移動中、初老の男性に注意される。JR職員がおさえていた席に、後から乗ってきた安倍氏が座ったため。男性は安倍氏の隣に立って苦言を続ける。安倍氏はしばらく聞いていたが、「だから、すみませんって言ってるじゃないか」と怒り、その後は座ったまま目を閉じる。男性は隣に立ち続けた。

3:30PM LDP President Abe was scolded by a elderly citizen when he was on the regular train on JR Tokaido Line as he was moving around in Shizuoka Prefecture for campaign speeches. It was because the seat was held by a JR personnel, and Mr. Abe took the seat even though Abe boarded the train after the elderly citizen. Standing right next to Mr. Abe, the citizen kept complaining. Mr. Abe listened for a while, but got angry and burst out, "I said I'm sorry, didn't I?" Then he continued to sit, with his eyes closed. The citizen kept standing next to Mr. Abe.


The LDP President who's been preaching national virtue and morals and further promoting nuclear power had a JR personnel hold a train seat for him, took the seat, robbing the elderly citizen of his seat, and got angry when the citizen complained. Some virtue.

I wonder if he paid for the train fare.

Nonetheless, his party is, according to Asahi and all the other major media outlets in Japan, set to win at least 280 seats, a huge jump from the current 119.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

In case of Japan, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on you. Fool me three times, shame on you. Fool me four times, shame on you. Fool me five times, shame on you. Fool me six times, shame on you. Et ad infinitum.

Japan's Nuclear Regulatory Authority: Higashidori Nuke Plant in Aomori May Have Active Faults, Restart Doubtful


While the nation is engrossed with the upcoming Lower House election on December 16, the much-maligned Nuclear Regulatory Authority goes out and does one field survey after another at the nuclear power plant sites. It has just declared the fractured zones underneath the reactor at Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant as "active faults", indicating it won't even conduct the safety inspection for the restart.

Now, after spending two days in Higashidori Nuclear Power Plant in Aomori, the same group of researchers headed by Dr. Shimazaki, deputy chairman of NRA says it is likely that the faults that run through the plant compound are active faults that moved as recently as less than 100,000 years ago. Just like in the case of Tsuruga Nuke Plant, all 5 experts agreed.

Go go, Nuclear Regulatory Authority's geologists and seismologists, before LDP shuts you down.

From Kahoku Shinpo (12/15/2012):

東通「活断層の可能性」再稼働困難になる恐れ 規制委調査

NRA's investigation on Higashidori "Active faults possible", restart may be difficult

 東北電力東通原発(青森県東通村)敷地内の断層について、原子力規制委員会の現地調査団は14日、2日間の調査を終えた。調査団長の島崎邦彦委員長代理は一部の断層について「10万年前以降に再活動した可能性がある」との見解を示した。調査団5人全員が活断層の可能性を指摘した。

On December 14, the field survey team of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority concluded the two-day investigation of the faults in the compound of Higashidori Nuke Plant operated by Tohoku Electric Power Company (Higashidori-mura, Aomori Prefecture). The team leader Dr. Kunihiko Shimazaki, NRA's deputy chairman, said that some of the faults "may have been active as recent as less than 100,000 years ago." All five members of the team pointed out to the possibility of active faults.

 調査結果は20日に東京で開く評価会合で議論される。東北電が原子炉の耐震性の見直しを迫られ、再稼働が困難になる恐れが出てきた。

The results will be discussed in the meeting in Tokyo on December 20. Tohoku Electric may be forced to review its seismic assessment of the nuclear reactors, and the restart of the plant may become difficult.

 調査団は、原子炉の西側を南北に走る「F-3」と「F-9」の2本の断層について、付近の試掘溝(トレンチ)内に入り、断層周辺のたわみの地質的な組成などを詳しく調べた。東北電が国に提出した原子炉設置許可申請書などの資料も、専門的に検討した。

For the two faults, "F-3" and "F-9" that run north-south on the west side of the reactors, the survey team went in the trench to closely examine the geological features around the faults. The researchers also studied the documents that Tohoku Electric had submitted, including the application for permission to install nuclear reactor.

 国が定めた原発の耐震設計上の基準では、12万~13万年前以降の敷地内の活断層を考慮しなければならない。島崎委員長代理は「F-3」「F-9」断層が10万年より最近に動いた可能性を挙げ「それを踏まえれば、周辺の小断層s-14とs-19などの地層の形状変化に説明がつく」と述べた。

According to the seismic design standard set by the national government, an active fault inside the compound that is newer than 120,000 to 130,000 years ago has to be considered. Deputy Chairman Shimazaki raised the possibility that "F-3" and "F-9" faults moved more recently than 100,000 years ago, and said "If we consider that possibility, it explains the change in strata such as small faults nearby like "s-14" and "s-19".

 島崎委員長代理は、20日の評価会合について「基本的に、これらが『活断層ではない』と言えるのかどうかが論点になるだろう」と話した。

Deputy Chairman Shimazaki said of the December 20 meeting, "Basically, the point of discussion will be whether we can say these "are not active faults" or not."

 東北電の梅田健夫副社長は「先生方の見解もあるだろうが、20日の評価会で私どもの考え方を話したい」と発言。同社側は耐震性を見直す必要のある活断層はない、との見解を重ねて強調した。

Vice President of Tohoku Electric Takeo Umeda said, "Scholars may have their own opinions, but we have ours and we will talk about them in the December 20 meeting." He emphasized again the company's view that there is no active fault that would necessitate the review of seismic design.


Thanks to Dr. Shimazaki, I now fully understand the position of Tohoku Electric, or any nuclear power plant operator. Tohoku Electric does not see any active fault because that's not what they are looking for. They are looking for confirmation that there is no active fault, and as long as there is no such confirmation they can keep looking. To keep on looking is as good as no fault.

This is what Dr. Shimazaki said in the press conference on December 10 when he announced the active faults in Tsuruga Nuke Plant:

After all, the plant operator is in a very delicate position, particularly those who actually do the investigation may be placed in a very delicate position, I suspect. Basically, [the operator] continues the investigation in order to prove that it is not an active fault, and as long as it cannot prove that it has to continue the investigation, so to speak. That is a totally different position than ours.


Aomori Prefecture is conservative. I don't know about long time ago, but ever since the nuclear facilities have started to be built in the prefecture - Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant, Higashidori Nuke Plant, Ooma Nuke Plant - the prefecture heavily depends on government special subsidies and special taxes it can assess these nuclear operators. The plant operators also give generous "gifts" to the municipalities where the plants are located. It will vote LDP in the coming election, according to press reports, maybe in all 4 districts.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Radioactive Materials Dispersion Simulation for Nuclear Regulatory Authority Was Done by One Worker, Using a Pocket Calculator


(Update 12/14/2012) I asked Ryuichi Kino (who's now allowed back in TEPCO press conferences) about these maps. As far as he knows, these maps still ignores geographical information, and treat the land as flat. He says he will ask about it in the next press conference of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority/Agency.

==========================

The dispersion simulation maps first announced by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority right were full of errors and had to be redone. NRA announced the corrected maps on December 13, but according to the article by Tokyo Shinbun, the real story is not the maps but how the maps were created.

According to the Tokyo Shinbun article as quoted at "Zamamiyagarei" blog, the history is as follows:

  1. Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, before it was shut down, decided to have the simulation maps created for each nuclear power plant in Japan. It contracted Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization (JNES) to do the job. [I've read elsewhere that the job was for mere 10 million yen, or US$119,000).]

  2. JNES had one person in charge of the job, and he gave it to a long-term subcontractor called CSA Japan in Tokyo, as usual.

  3. CSA Japan had one person doing the job of creating the simulation maps for the entire nuclear power plants in Japan, who used his pocket calculator to calculate the dispersion models. He apparently made numerous errors, resulting in the inaccurate simulation maps that NRA announced, to their embarrassment.

  4. No one at JNES or NRA checked the work.


It's not that using a pocket calculator is bad. An Indian "computor" (a person who computes) calculated the height of Peak XV in Himalaya by hand calculation. It is all in the brain, after all.

CSA Japan was incorporated in 1999 with the capital of 10 million yen. Its main customers are government agencies and large corporations in nuclear industry. JNES comes near the top of the customer list. TEPCO also seems to be their regular customer:

Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization
Tokyo Electric Power Company
The Japan Atomic Power Company
TEPCO Systems Corporation
Institute of Nuclear Safety System ,Incorporated
Genden Information System Co.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Nuclear Fuel Industries ,Ltd.
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
MHI Nuclear Engineering Company, Limited
Itochu Techno-Solutions Corporation
TOiNX (Tohoku Information Systems Company, Incorporated)


Why did NISA need to create simulation maps by contracting them out cheaply, which ended up on the lap of one unhappy employee at a subcontractor who used a pocket calculator? They have SPEEDI.

My guess is that NISA figured it was cheaper to contract out anew than to run SPEEDI.

"Cheap, cheap", sang a NISA bird. So sings just about every government agencies in Japan, large and small. Money before safety. That's what two "lost decades" have done to the country.

By the way, the first set of maps not only got the wind directions wrong, but they didn't consider the topography at all, treating the land in Japan as flat. I don't know if that has been corrected in the new version. With a pocket calculator, it may have been a bit too complicated.

PM Noda on Tsuruga Nuke Plant Reactor 2: "Decommissioning Likely, But Up to the Operator"


Much like the voluntary halt on shipment of produce that has tested with radioactive cesium exceeding the national standard. It's up to the producer to abide by the halt, and no government agency is there to enforce it.

From Mainichi Shinbun (12/14/2012):

野田佳彦首相は13日夜のTBS番組で、原子炉建屋直下に活断層がある可能性が高まった日本原子力発電敦賀原発2号機(福井県)について「そういうこと(廃炉)になっていく」との見通しを示した。首相は「原子力規制委員会が『安全上問題がある』ということなら、稼働させない。事業者の判断で廃炉にすることになる」と述べ、自主的な判断を促した。

In a TBS TV program on December 13 evening, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda commented on Reactor 2 at Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant operated by Japan Atomic Power (in Fukui Prefecture), saying "It (decommissioning) will be likely". Prime Minister said, "If the Nuclear Regulatory Authority says there is a safety problem, I will not allow the operation. It will be decommissioned, on the decision by the operator", prompting Japan Atomic Power to decide voluntarily.


In the meanwhile, the same set of geologists and seismologists who unanimously agreed on the possibility of an active fault under the reactor building at Tsuruga Nuke Plant is now in Aomori, studying the trenches dug by Tohoku Electric Power Company at Higashidori Nuclear Power Plant to determine whether the four faults there are active. According to Mainichi, Dr. Shimazaki, who is heading the experts, says what Tohoku Electric calls "swelling" may be due to the active fault.

I do suspect the days of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority may be numbered, particularly when I read LDP may win more than 280 seats in the coming election, and their findings will be nullified.

Susan Rice Withdraws from Secretary of State Consideration


From Yahoo News (12/13/2012):

Susan Rice, the embattled U.S. Ambassador for the U. N., withdrew her name from consideration Thursday to be Secretary of State.

President Barack Obama confirmed the news in a statement Thursday afternoon, saying "While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character, and an admirable commitment to rise above the politics of the moment to put our national interests first."


Ms. Rice was the one who was sent to the media right after the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya in September 11 this year to tell the public it was a spontaneous attack stemming from the demonstration against the anti-Islam movie.

Never mind that there was no demonstration that day at the consulate, as admitted by Ms. Rice herself, albeit more than 2 months later.

Attacking her for her lies is "racist" and "sexist" in the US.

It was reported in early November, right before the US presidential election (and therefore totally ignored), that the Benghazi consulate was an CIA outfit.

OT: In US, More Older People Watch TV News, They Have Gained More Jobs, Too


Pew Research shows that only 34% of people under 30 watch TV for news in 2012, whopping 15% drop from 2006. In contrast, more people over 50 watch TV for news in 2012 than in 2006 (table below taken from Poynter.org):


Coincidentally, people between 55 and 69 ("boomer generation") are the ones who have disproportionately gained jobs since Obama took office. Jobs may be part-time, low-pay (most likely), but they are jobs nonetheless. The biggest loser is the group in the prime work years (25 to 54).

From Zero Hedge:


(I am not claiming any causality. When I saw the former table, I simply remembered the latter chart.)

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Update from TEPCO's Press Conference on Toshiba's 4-Legged Robot That Crashed in #Fukushima I Nuke Plant Reactor 2 Torus Room


It's so pathetic it is almost funny. Or at least the dialog between the reporters and TEPCO during the December 12, 2012 press conference was, probably unintentionally.

It was funnier reading about it via the tweets by @ystricera, who has tweeted almost all press conferences by TEPCO and the government regulatory agencies since March 2011.

Reporter: What time did the robot stop?
TEPCO: In the morning.
Reporter: It's evening now, and you don't know the exact time?
TEPCO: We will investigate all day tomorrow.


Two human colleagues from Toshiba had to get exposed to 1.36 millisievert radiation to retrieve the robot, but just to the outside the torus room.

For more of the mission of this clumsy Toshiba robot, see my previous post.

From his tweets on December 12, 2012, the remarks in parenthesis are either his explanation or the reporters' questions:

(2号機4本足ロボット調査、もともと1階北東側三角コーナーから親機入れて階段を降りてから)東電「階段をまず降りて地下のところまでいってトーラス室に行くのに登り階段がある、そこから登る操作していた所足をかけて上に上がろうとしていた所前足が浮いて後ろに倒れる形に 」

(Investigation of Reactor 2 by the 4-legged robot, it was to enter from the northeast corner on the first floor and climb down the stairs, then..?) TEPCO "The robot first climbed down the stairs to go to the basement, then there are stairs to climb up to the torus room. The robot started to climb. Then the forelegs went up in the air and the robot fell backward."

東電「遠隔段階、動作不能になったので2人いって回収。結果的には倒れているので想定していない不具合があったのかと思うが、状況としては前足を前にかけていて後ろ足をあげる段階で後ろ倒しになったと、バランス崩す制御になったと」

TEPCO "The robot was on a remote control. Two people went to retrieve the unresponsive robot. Since it fell down, we assume there were some unexpected problems. But the situation was that the forelegs were on the step already, and the robot was lifting the hind leg, then lost control and fell backwards."

東電「動作開始の直後。登り始めるところからスタートで登りはじめたらすぐ。」

TEPCO "It was right after the robot started to climb."

東電「2号機ベント管調査の件、キャットウォークに登る階段を登りはじめた所で厳密に言うとトーラス室に入ったところ」(人がいって回収したのは間違いないか)「2人いって回収、入り口なのでそんなに大きいわけではなく実際の被曝量は多い方の方で1.36mSv」

TEPCO "The robot was just starting to climb the stairs leading to the catwalk. So to be precise, it was right inside the torus room." (So human workers went to retrieve it, is that correct?) "Two people went to retrieve the robot. Because the location was right at the entrance, the radiation level was not that high. The max exposure was 1.36 millisievert."

(共同池上 調査前にひっくり返った)東電「開始直後ですので調査はできていない」(明日は調査しない、終わり時期がよくわからないがいつくらいまでやる予定)「1日1本、2本、状況に応じてだが全部で8本あるのでそういうオーダーでできると作業継続」

(Ikegami of Kyodo News: So the robot flipped over before the investigation.) TEPCO "It happened right at the beginning of the work, so no, there was no investigation done." (So you're not going to do the investigation tomorrow? When will the investigation be over?) "One or two vent pipes a day, so depending on the situation, there are 8 vent pipes, we hope to carry out the investigation at that pace."

(回収は東電社員)「協力企業」(東芝の人)「そうだと思います」

(Did TEPCO employees retrieve the robot?) "Affiliate company." (Were they from Toshiba?) "I think so." [TEPCO doesn't even know that??]

(壊れた部分は)東電「倒れかかったということで、そんなに大きく壊れてないと。後ろの壁にもたれかかった。回収は手で運び出した」(建屋の外まで)「トーラス室の外の三角コーナーまで」(ロボット自体は今どこに)「三角コーナーに」

(What broke?) TEPCO "The robot didn't completely fall down, so we don't think it's damaged much. It was leaning against the wall behind it. Workers hand-carried it." (To outside the reactor building?) "To the landing just outside the torus room." (Where is the robot now?) "On the landing."

(仮置きしたのはおもいっちゅうのもあると思うが)東電「そこでバッテリーチャージもできますし」

(I suppose it is because the robot was so heavy that the workers had to leave it there for now.) TEPCO "Well, we can charge batteries there."

(ロボット三角コーナーに仮置きというお話されたが故障原因わからずにその場に仮置きだと修理しようがないが外に持ちだして確認したりは)東電「どういう調査するか含めて確認中」

(So the robot is temporarily placed on the landing, you say. But if you have it there temporarily without knowing the cause of the problem, there is no way to repair it. Are you going to take it outside [the reactor building] and inspect?) TEPCO "We're trying to figure out what to do."

(止まったのは何時)東電「朝」(夕方になってもわからないと)東電「明日1日調査する」

(What time did it stop?) TEPCO "In the morning." (It's evening now, and you don't know the exact time?) TEPCO: "We will investigate tomorrow all day."


AAAAGGGGHHHH....

North Korean "Object" "Tumbling Out of Control", Says US Officials


The US says it is not sure what it is that North Korea launched into space on December 11. China expresses regret. South Koreans protest.

From MSNBC (12/12/2012; part, emphasis is mine):

North Korean satellite 'tumbling out of control,' US officials say

The object that North Korea sent into space on Wednesday appears to be “tumbling out of control” as it orbits the earth, U.S. officials told NBC News.

The officials said that it is indeed some kind of space vehicle, but they still haven’t been able to determine exactly what the satellite is supposed to do.

In a statement, the White House said the rocket launch was a highly provocative act that threatens regional security and violates U.N. resolutions.

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday condemned the launch, calling it a "clear violation" of U.N. resolutions. A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he "deplores" the launch.

North Korea is banned from conducting missile and nuclear tests, under the terms of U.N. sanctions imposed after a series of nuclear weapons tests in 2006 and 2009.

Missile warning systems detected the launch at 7:49 p.m. ET Tuesday. North American Aerospace Defense Command officials said in a statement that the initial indications were that the first stage fell into the Yellow Sea and the second stage fell into the Philippine Sea.

North Korea said the launch was an attempt to place a satellite into a pole-to-pole orbit. Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency said that the rocket was fired from the Sohae Satellite Launch Center on the secretive country's west coast, and that the Kwangmyongsong weather satellite went into orbit as planned.

But U.S. officials say the launch was a thinly veiled attempt to test a three-stage ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead as far as the U.S. West Coast.

Russia added its voice to the condemnation of the launch and also called on other nations to refrain from further escalating tensions.

"The new rocket launch carried out by North Korea flaunts the opinion of the international community, including calls from the Russian side," it said.

China, North Korea's only major diplomatic ally, said officials had urged Pyongyang not to go ahead with the launch, and expressed regret that it had taken place.

(Full article at the link)


MSNBC also has a video showing South Koreans protesting the "object" launch by North Korea:

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OT: North Korean "Missile" Launch or "Rocket" Launch?


On one hand, it is good that many Japanese now doubt some of the things (not all, by any means) that their government and the mass media tell them. On the other hand, the same people still truly believe that the foreign media is unbiased and reports only the truth, and that the foreign media will report what the Japanese counterpart will never report.

The latest manifestation of this belief is over the launch of a satellite by North Korea on December 11. Twitter was abuzz almost right away, refuting the Japanese government's announcement that a "missile" was launched, or the government's characterization that it was "effectively a ballistic missile technology". The Japanese media duly reported as such.

People indignantly tweeted, "See how deceptive they are. None of the foreign media is reporting it as "missile". They all say "rocket". See how our government twists the fact and tries to incite nationalistic fervor! We can't trust the Japanese media at all!"

It's a beautiful narrative that fits what has transpired since March 2011. It seems people's focus is purely on semantics not substance, and the fact that the Japanese government called it a "missile" while every sane nation and media in the world called it a "rocket", therefore the Japanese government is a liar who cannot be trusted. The meme is still going strong today.

I don't know what "foreign media" they were looking at, but clearly not these:

Huffington Post quoting AP: White House: North Korea Missile Launch 'Highly Provocative'

ABC News: ANALYSIS: North Korean Missile Hits Its Target of Alarming the World

USA Today: U.S. condemns North Korea missile launch

The Atlantic: North Korea's Missile Launch: The Winners and Losers

And the White House: Statement from NSC Spokesman Tommy Vietor on North Korea’s Missile Launch


Here is the "rocket" camp:

Wall Street Journal: North Korea Claims Success in Rocket Launch [with the sub-headline saying "U.S. Confirms Object Reached Orbit; Pyongyang's Effort Is Seen as Provocation and Advancement of Missile Program"

CBS News: North Korea successfully launches long-range rocket

BBC: UN Security Council condemns North Korea rocket launch


North American Aerospace Defense Command seems to think it was "missile" From CBS News:

In a written statement, North American Aerospace Defense Command officials "acknowledged today that U.S. missile warning systems detected and tracked the launch of a North Korean missile at 7:49 p.m. EST...Initial indications are that the missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit. At no time was the missile or the resultant debris a threat to North America."


Since the Japanese like the United Nation, what did they think?

The United Nation's Security Council seems to consider it as missile. From BBC:

The UN Security Council has condemned North Korea for launching a missile in defiance of a UN resolution.

The Council president, Moroccan ambassador Mohammed Loulichk, described the launch as "a clear violation of Security Council resolutions".

The US says Pyongyang will face "consequences" for the launch, calling it a "highly provocative act that threatens regional security".

The US and its allies view the launch as a disguised ballistic missile test
.


They hear what they want to hear, they see what they want to see. That's not just a Japanese phenomenon, but it's very pronounced in Japan. At least part of the reason may be their general lack of English language ability. When someone says "None of the foreign media said it was a missile, and the Japanese government lied", the comment is taken as the truth, coming from someone who must have checked all the foreign sources, and it takes on a life of its own and spread.

(UPDATED) #Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Toshiba's 4-Legged Robot Checked Vent Pipe in Reactor 2, No Leak, Damage Observed


(UPDATE) I just had a laugh for the night. In TEPCO's press conference on December 12, TEPCO has just said this robot has crashed. TEPCO was going to check one or two more vent pipes on December 12, but the robot lost its balance and collapsed on the staircase to the torus room and cannot move. TEPCO will investigate the cause of this malfunction tomorrow.

In the demonstration in Yokohama in November, humans had to carry the robot off the stairs when it froze. I suppose Toshiba workers will have to retrieve the robot from the torus room, braving the high radiation.

It was very stupid to send the clumsy robot like this on a task similar to the one that had caused it to freeze in the demonstration. TEPCO that cannot say no (or doesn't say no).

===============================

In the video released by TEPCO on December 11, the Toshiba robot who froze with one leg up in the air during the demonstration in November in Yokohama takes time to put one leg forward and then another. It takes about 25 seconds for it to lift the left hind leg and put it on the next step.

I feel sorry for TEPCO for having to accept a dud like this.

The video title is "Investigation on the lower part of Unit 2 vent pipe at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (Mockup test)", indicating TEPCO is going to use this thing in Reactor 2.

(Video is being uploaded right now.)


And it did. TEPCO just released the photos of the vent pipe that was examined by the robot on December 11. There is no discernible leak or damage to this particular pipe.

From TEPCO's handout for the press, "Results of Investigation on the Lower Part of Unit 2 Vent Pipe at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station" (12/11/2012), page 2 (click to enlarge):


No information on how long it took this robot to do the work. Page 3 says actual radiation dose was 1.75 millisievert, but no information whether that was for the robot or the robot operator(s).

Edge of vent pipe sleeve:


Edge of sand cushion drain pipe:


Lower part of vent pipe bellows cover:


On March 15, 2011, a loud sound was heard from the Reactor 2 torus room, and Reactor 2 is supposed to have released radioactive material an order of magnitude larger than the other reactors.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

North Korea Just Launched "Satelite" (or "Missile" as the Japanese Government Alleges)


Official tweet from the Prime Minister's Official Residence:

さきほど、北朝鮮の「人工衛星」と称するミサイルが南方向に発射されました。続報が入り次第、お知らせします。

Just a short while ago, North Korea's missile, or "satellite", was launched toward southern direction. We will let you know as soon as we get more information.


Then,

先ほどのミサイル発射時刻は9時49分ごろです。

The missile was launched at about 9:49AM.


Then,

落下予測地域はフィリピンの東約300キロの太平洋上です。

It is estimated to fall on the Pacific Ocean about 300 kilometers east of the Philippines.


No, the Japanese government did not shoot it down, though it apparently flew over Okinawa.

Drama and suspense that LDP's Abe may have been hoping for are gone now. Still, his party seems to be duping enough voters and is expected to win the outright majority with the coalition partner Komei Party, who clearly enjoys being in the ruling coalition whether the main party is DPJ or LDP.

#Radioactive Japan: Mayor of Iitate-mura in Fukushima Wants Residents Back in 2014


There are neptunium and plutonium in Iitate-mura's soil, spiders are concentrating radioactive silver. Back in early April last year, IAEA said they had found 20 million becquerels/kg of iodine-131 from the soil.

Never you mind.

The highly political mayor of Iitate-mura says he will declare that the residents of this highly contaminated village return to the village in the fall of 2014. At the latest, by the spring of 2015.

Mayor Sugano is planning to have the villagers back three and a half years after the worst nuclear accident in Japan. The national government will be delighted, as that will mean the end of paying the compensations to the villagers.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (12/11/2012):

東京電力福島第一原発事故で全村避難が続く福島県飯舘村の菅野典雄村長は11日、住民に帰還を呼びかける帰村宣言を出す時期について、「2014年秋頃」と語り、初めて見通しを示した。

As evacuation after the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant continues in Iitate-mura in Fukushima Prefecture, Mayor Norio Sugano mentioned the timing of issuing his declaration for the villagers to return to the village for the first time, saying it would be "around the fall of 2014".

村議会の一般質問で答えた。

He was answering the general question during the Village Assembly on December 11.

国は14年3月までに除染を完了させるとしているが、菅野村長は「遅れる可能性がある」との認識を示し、「14年秋か、遅くとも15年春には宣言を出したい」と述べた。宣言に合わせ、福島市に避難している役場も村に戻す。

The national government plans to finish decontamination by March 2014. Mayor Sugano acknowledged that it may be delayed, but said "I want to issue the declaration [for the return] in the fall of 2014, or the spring of 2015 at the latest." Once he issues the declaration, the village office, currently evacuated to Fukushima City, will return to the village.

飯舘村は昨年4月、計画的避難区域に指定され、今年7月、空間放射線量に応じて3区域に再編された。国は、村内20行政区のうち、「避難指示解除準備区域」と「居住制限区域」の計16地区の避難指示を解除する時期の見込みを、14年3月と設定している。

Iitate-mura was designated as planned evacuation zone in April last year, and was reorganized into three zones this July depending on the air radiation levels. The national government has set the target date to lift the evacuation order in 16 districts in the village currently designated as "zone to prepare for the lifting of the evacuation order" and "zone with restriction in dwelling". There are 20 districts in the village.


Iitate-mura is one of the municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture where the national government is in charge of the so-called "decontamination". The decon project in Iitate-mura has been awarded to one of the largest general contractors in Japan (Taisei), but faced with the reality the scope of the project has narrowed significantly. All the government is doing and will do is to remove surface soil in the agricultural land (rice paddies, crop fields) and to clean up around residences. Forests and mountains won't even be touched.

Even the decontamination of the farm land only makes sense in the minds of bureaucrats in the central government who have never worked a single day in the real world (like farm land). The government decontaminates (i.e. removes surface soil) the rice paddies, for example, BUT NOT the footpaths between the rice paddies. No decon work will be done on the footpaths, because the government's decon plan doesn't say anything about the footpaths, according to one of the very frustrated Iitate farmers who tweet.

On December 7 when M7.3 earthquake hit Tohoku and Kanto, a man in his 50s apparently died of a heart attack in Iitate-mura when he tried to escape. He was working at a factory in Iitate-mura, which has been kept open and operational despite the nuclear accident. There are a few, large-scale machining factories in Iitate-mura which have continued to employ hundreds of Iitate villagers since the nuclear accident. One of the reason why it took until late April last year for the evacuation to take effect in Iitate-mura has been rumored to be Mayor Sugano's negotiating with the national government to make these factories exempt and allow them to continue to operate, employing the villagers as before.

Many Iitate villagers on Twitter have been tweeting the high radiation levels in Iitate-mura. One of them, Mr. Ito, recently tweeted that the national government is creating a "temporary" storage area for the highly contaminated soil removed from farmland. Where is it? Right above the reservoir that feeds water to farmland.


Outside the village, no one seem to care any more.

Monday, December 10, 2012

"Active Fault Right Under the Reactor Building in Tsuruga Nuke Plant", Japan's Nucleaer Regulatory Authority Concluded After 2-Day Field Research


All five experts on the Nuclear Regulatory Authority's panel agree it is highly likely that the fault that runs right beneath the Reactor 2 building at Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant is an active fault.

Chairman Shunichi Tanaka doesn't think it is even possible at this point to proceed with the safety evaluation to restart the plant.

From Jiji Tsushin (12/10/2012):


敦賀原発、活断層の可能性=田中委員長「再稼働できない」-専門家一致・規制委
It may be an active fault at Tsuruga Nuke Plant, Chairman Tanaka says "Cannot restart", all experts at Nuclear Regulatory Authority agree

日本原子力発電敦賀原発(福井県敦賀市)で、敷地内の岩盤の亀裂(破砕帯)に活断層の疑いが指摘された問題で、原子力規制委員会は10日、現地調査の結果を検討する評価会合を開いた。2号機原子炉建屋の直下を通る断層について、専門家5人全員が「活断層の可能性が高い」との認識で一致。これを受け田中俊一委員長は、個人的考えと前置きした上で「今のままでは再稼働に向けた安全審査はとてもできないと判断した」と述べた。

Experts have raised doubt that fractured zones inside the Japan Atomic Power Co. Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant compound (Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture) may be active faults. The Nuclear Regulatory Authority held a meeting on December 10 to evaluate the result of the field survey. As to the fault that runs directly beneath the reactor building of Unit 2, all five experts agreed that "it is highly likely to be an active fault". Chairman Shunichi Tanaka, prefacing that his remark is personal, said "In the current condition, we have decided there is no way we can conduct the safety evaluation for the restart of the plant."

規制委は近く会合を開き、評価結果の妥当性を判断するが、再稼働は認められない見通しとなった。運転停止が長期間続けば、廃炉を求める声が強まる可能性がある。原発の断層問題で、専門家調査団が活断層と判断したのは初めて。

NRA will hold a meeting soon to decide the appropriateness of the evaluation, but the prospect is that the restart will not be allowed. If the shutdown of the reactor continues for a long time, it is possible that people will demand decommissioning the reactor. This is the first time in the investigation of faults in nuclear power plants that a panel of experts determined a fault as active.

評価会合では、日本原電が調査のために掘った試掘溝の西側に、2号機原子炉建屋直下を通る「D-1破砕帯」の一部とみられる活断層が存在する可能性が高いとの認識で一致した。

In the evaluation meeting, the expert agreed that it is highly likely that an active fault, which is considered to be part of the "D-1 fracture zone" right underneath the reactor building of Unit 2, exists on the west side of the trench that Japan Atomic Power Co. dug for the investigation.

座長役の島崎邦彦委員長代理は、根拠として(1)政府の地震調査研究推進本部が活断層の目安とする40万年前より新しい十数万年前に動いていたと考えられる(2)原発近くを通る活断層「浦底断層」と非常に近い動きをしている-などを挙げた。

Deputy Chairman Kunihiko Shimazaki explained the basis of their conclusion as: (1) The fault is considered to have been moving, as late as 100,000 and several 10,000 years ago, much later than 400,000 years ago which is a criterion for an active fault as defined by the government's Headquarters of Earthquake Research Promotion; (2) The fault is moving closely together with a [known] active fault near the nuclear power plant, "Urazoko Fault".


I caught part of the live press conference that the Nuclear Regulatory Authority held on December 10 to announce their findings. Deputy Chairman Shimazaki and five experts who went to Tsuruga to investigate in early December were there, answering questions from the reporters.

What struck me was two things: 1) Reporters from the mainstream media seemed knowledgeable enough on the subject to ask intelligent questions to the experts to get the facts out; and 2) The experts pretty much gave straight answers, without any seeming vested interest or ego.

(After watching the beginning of the press conference, the first point still stands, but with the exception of the NHK reporter who was clearly designated by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency (secretariat) to ask the first question. His question was too vague and generalized, Dr. Shimazaki was perplexed as to what he was asking.)

There were some very interesting exchanges between the reporters and the experts who were all geologists, particularly Dr. Shimazaki (seismologist by training).

When asked by a reporter from Fukui TV why it was taking months for the operator of the plant to reach any conclusion but the Nuclear Regulatory Authority's experts were able to reach a conclusion (that an active fault runs beneath the reactor building) in two days, Dr. Shimazaki answered:

やはり事業者さんはですね、非常に微妙な立場に、特に調査をされている方がそういう立場におかれているんではないかとわたくしは思います。基本的には、活断層ではないことを証明するために調査を続けられているわけですから、その証明が出来ない限りは、ある意味調査を続けなければいけないという立場になるわけで、それは我々の立場とはぜんぜん違う立場になります。

After all, the plant operator is in a very delicate position, particularly those who actually do the investigation may be placed in a very delicate position, I suspect. Basically, [the operator] continues the investigation in order to prove that it is not an active fault, and as long as it cannot prove that it has to continue the investigation, so to speak. That is a totally different position than ours.


Isn't that the truth. I was rather shocked that Dr. Shimazaki very matter-of-factly stated it.

Then, a reporter from pro-nuke Yomiuri (and probably aligned well with the Nuclear Regulatory Agency) asked again, why the group of experts was able to reach the conclusion so quickly, compared to Ooi. Dr. Shimazaki, showing some heat, said,

今回の結論がもし皆さんが速いと言われるのであれば、わたくしは速いとは思いませんよ。はい。わたくし個人的にはですね、データがそろっていれば皆さんの意見は一致するはずなんで、きちんとしたデータがあれば判断は速いとわたくしは思っていますので、決して二日の調査で簡単に結論を出したな、という風に思われるのは心外だ、と思います。きちんとした調査がされていてきちんとしたデータがあれば、日にちはある意味関係ない、皆さんが一致した結論になる、というのがわたくしの思いであります。

If you think our conclusion this time [as compared to that on Ooi Nuke Plant] was made quickly, well I don't think it was quick. No. Personally, I think the same conclusion is reached if the valid data is there, and the decision can be made quickly if there is enough [valid] data. I am a bit annoyed if you think we made a casual decision with only the 2-day investigation. If the investigation is done properly and there is valid data, the number of days [to make decision] is in a way irrelevant, and the experts will agree on the conclusion, that's what I think.


indicating that unlike Kansai Electric (in Ooi Plant investigation) the operator did have a very good set of data but didn't want to draw any conclusion that they didn't want.

The Nuclear Regulatory Authority, before it was formed, was heavily criticized by many as being run by the "nuclear village residents" - people with strong ties to the nuclear industry in Japan, and as such it would be biased toward the industry and toward the restart of the nuclear power plants.

It must be an unpleasant surprise for the industry, so far.

The nuclear industry can hope for the day, very soon, when LDP's Abe is installed again as the Prime Minister of Japan, and fire these commissioners. Abe will have an excellent pretext of firing anyone who was not formally approved by the Diet (as PM Noda pushed through the appointment without consulting the Diet).

The Nuclear Regulatory Authority's reports are here. In his report at the site, Professor Takahiro Miyauchi of Chiba University Earth Science says Urazoko Fault and its related faults may be capable of generating earthquakes greater than M7.5, and urges the criteria for the evaluation to include not just fractured zones but this long stretch (35 kilometers minimum, as long as 65 kilometers) of faults right next to the plant.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Cause Still Unknown for #Fukushima II (Daini) Nuke Plant Pressure Rise in Reactor 1 Building


TEPCO doesn't have much to say about the rise in pressure in the Reactor 1 building at Fukushima II (Daini) Nuclear Power Plant after the M7.3 earthquake on December 7, 2012.

Yes they pumped the air out, thorough the exhaust duct, but no they don't know why the positive pressure happened. Just like anything else, they don't know the reason, but do immediate patchwork so that the undesirable conditions go away, for a short while at least.

Hardly anyone pays attention to Fukushima I or II Nuke Plants or the workers there any more, anyway. People are having a good time electioneering, and many net citizens are feeling righteous about cheering for the candidates and the parties who profess anti-nuclear (beyond nuclear, graduating from nuclear, whatever) sentiment.

Here's from the English press release from the incurious TEPCO on 12/8/2012 about Fukushima II (Daini):

At around 5:18 PM on December 7, a M7.3 earthquake occurred at the offshore of Sanriku. Upon plant checkup, no problem originating from the earthquake was found.

Since the pressure in Unit 1 Reactor Building had turned positive (though the pressure is kept negative to the outdoor air), the standby gas treatment system* was started upon judgment of an operator. The pressure in the Reactor Building increased to 0.05kPa right after the system was started and later the pressure turned back to negative and became stable. In order to investigate the cause of the pressure turning to positive, the standby gas treatment system was suspended and the Reactor Building ventilation air conditioning system was started on December 8. The pressure in the Reactor Building is being maintained in negative after switching the system. The cause of the incident will continue to be investigated.

* Standby gas treatment system: System that purifies the air in the Reactor Building utilizing high performance filter and discharge it to the outside through the exhaust stack. The system is comprised of systems (A) and (B).


By the way, remember the fluctuation of the water being injected into the Reactor Pressure Vessels at Fukushima I (Daiichi) Nuke Plant, back in August? The fluctuation was supposed to be due to the shaving debris from pipe installation clogging the mesh screens placed at the valves, and after cleaning the debris in the tank and flushing the pipes all were supposed to be OK. But no, the water continues to fluctuate to this day, and all TEPCO does is to adjust the water amount.

Curiosity may kill the cat, but I hope TEPCO's incuriosity will not kill us.

Election in Japan: 94-Year-Old Candidate in Saitama 12th District Says, "A Man Gotta Do What a Man Gotta Do"


Mr. Ryokichi Kawashima was drafted and fought in the World War II for 7 years. He is plain angry at the chicken hawks in LDP and Japan Restoration Party and worried about the direction of the country. So, this 94-year-old grandpa decided to run for office from Saitama 12th District, using the money he has saved from his pension as the deposit (which will not be returned if he, or any candidate, does not get a certain number of votes in the election).

He says, "A man gotta do what a man gotta do."



94歳無所属新人、蓄えた葬式代つぎ込み出馬…埼玉12区

From Sports Hochi (12/8/2012):

94歳無所属新人、蓄えた葬式代つぎ込み出馬…埼玉12区

94-year-old running as an independent in Saitama 12th District, using the funeral money he has saved

埼玉12区に無所属新人で立候補した川島良吉氏は、御年94歳。今選挙の最高齢候補者となるおじいちゃんは「葬式代としてためていた年金を選挙資金に充てた」と覚悟を口にする。一方の最年少候補者は群馬4区の民主・青木和也氏。投票3日前の13日に25歳となる。

Mr. Ryokichi Kawashima, who is a new, independent candidate in Saitama 12th District, is 94 years old. Grandpa, the oldest candidate in this election, speaks grimly about his resolution. "I used my pension savings for my funeral as election campaign fund." The youngest candidate by the way is Mr. Kazuya Aoki of DPJ in Gunma 4th District, who will turn 25 on December 13.

94歳ながら、視力1・2を誇る両目は鋭い眼光を放つ。国の行く末を憂う川島氏は、立候補の理由を明快に語る。「オレの出番だと思ってしまったんですよ」。供託金300万円は葬式代にと、ためていた年金から捻出した。まさに不退転。覚悟の初出馬だ。

Even though he is 94 years old, Mr. Kawashima still has the keen vision of 1.2 [20/16 in the US]. He is worried about the direction that this country is taking, and tells us why he decided to run for office. "I felt it was my turn." He came up with the deposit money of 3 million yen from the pension that he saved up for his funeral. It is indeed an indomitable resolve. This is his first candidacy

政治家を志したことはなかったが、各党の主張を聞くうちに闘志がたぎった。「右傾化する安倍(晋三・自民党総裁)や石原(慎太郎・日本維新の会代表)から『軍』なんていう言葉が普通に出る。橋下(徹・同党代表代行)もムチャクチャ。無条件降伏したのに。日本はどうなっちゃったんだ、という不安がありました」。耳は少し聞こえにくいが、話し出したら止まらないマシンガントークが武器だ。

He never wanted to become a politician, but as he listened to the politicians his fighting spirits were stirred. "Right-leaning (LDP President Shinzo) Abe and (Japan Restoration Party Leader Shintaro) Ishihara are moving to the right, they say "military" with ease. (Japan Restoration Party Deputy Leader Toru) Hashimoto is just absurd. We surrendered unconditionally [he is speaking of World War II]. What has happened to Japan? I got worried." He is a little bit hard of hearing, but his weapon is his rapid, machine-gun talk which doesn't stop once it starts.

第1次世界大戦が終結した1918年に生を受け、第2次大戦勃発の39年に徴兵。中国での7年間の戦闘では多くの仲間を失った。「オレは戦争で死なず、散々いい思いをした。このままじゃ死んでいった仲間に申し訳ないと」。そんな思いが出馬へと背中を押した。先月30日に自宅に親族を集めて「出馬表明」。最初は反対した親族も熱意に負けた。「友だちに手伝ってもらおうと思ったけど、もうみんな死んでいなくなってた」

He was born in 1918, the year the World War I ended. He was drafted in 1939, to fight in the World War II. He fought in China for seven years, many of his fellow soldiers died. "I survived the war, I have had a good time. If I don't do anything now, I don't know how I can justify myself to the soldiers who died." On November 30, he gathered his family members to his house and declared that he would run for office. His family was initially against it, but he prevailed. "I thought I would ask my friends to help me, but they were all dead."

カマド販売業、金融証券業などさまざまな仕事に従事した。今は埼玉県羽生市の自宅で一人暮らし。腰は真っすぐ。足取りは軽快だ。炊事、洗濯、掃除から車の運転まで自分でこなす。総務省選挙部管理課によると、94歳は今選挙の立候補者1504人の最高齢となる。

Mr. Kawashima had worked in many industries. Now he lives by himself in his own home in Hanyu City in Saitama Prefecture. His back is straight, he walks with a spring in his steps. He cooks, does laundry, cleans, and drives, all by himself. According to the Election Department Management Section of Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, he is the oldest candidate at 95 years of age, among 1504 candidates for this election.

埼玉12区は民主・本多氏と自民・野中氏の対決に、自民を離党した元県議・森田氏が加わる激戦の構図だ。「正直勝てるとは思っていない。でも訴えたいんですわ」。公約は憲法9条順守、原発反対、天皇を「象徴」ではなく「元首」とすること。公示直前の出馬決定で活動は出遅れたが、ようやく7日、チラシとポスターの作製に着手した。今後は街頭演説も行う予定だ。「男ってのはね、やるときゃやんないといかんのよ」―。

It is a tough competition in Saitama 12th District, with the DPJ candidate, the LDP candidate, and former LDP candidate battling it out. "To be honest, I don't think I will win. But I want to make myself heard." His campaign pledge is the adherence to the Article 9 of the Constitution, opposition to nuclear power plants, and having the emperor as "head of the state" instead of "symbol". His campaign started late as he had decided to run right before the official announcement of the election. On December 7, he finally started to make pamphlets and posters. He plans to make campaign speeches on the street.

"A man gotta do what a man gotta do."


But you could almost hear the steps of the military boots in Japan these days, not just in bellicose campaign speeches by the likes of Shinzo Abe or Boy Wonder and his new sidekick Shintaro Ishihara. Just yesterday (December 9), the Osaka Prefectural Police arrested the associate professor at Hannan University for supposedly holding a demonstration without a permit to protest against the disaster debris burning in Osaka City. His alleged crime was to have walked about 250 meters inside the JR Osaka Station, handing out pamphlets in October.

What scares me is not that he was arrested but the reaction of many prominent people I see on Twitter to this arrest, approving the police action as "legitimate", "their right to arrest as they see fit".

All over the so-called developed world, left or right, the governments are exerting ever-increasing, arbitrary power over the citizens, and the citizens are hard pressed to find the reasons to justify what's happening around them.

94-year-old Kawashima must know that very well.