Japan Govt to Continue to Spearhead Fukushima’s Reconstruction

December 18, 2018

Tokyo--Japan's Reconstruction Agency laid out a policy Tuesday that the central government will continue to spearhead efforts to reconstruct areas affected by the nuclear accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s <9501> disaster-crippled Fukushima No. 1 power plant.

The policy was included in a report the agency compiled to identify tasks that must be tackled after the fiscal 2020 end of the current government-designated five-year period for the reconstruction from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and the subsequent nuclear disaster.

The report, based on surveys on five affected prefectures in northeastern and eastern Japan in June-November, noted that the central government will maintain its leadership because medium- to long-term responses are necessary for Fukushima's reconstruction and revival.

By the end of March next year, the agency plans to compile basic reconstruction policies based on the identified tasks and lay out the direction for a successor body for the agency, set to be abolished by the end of fiscal 2020.

As for Fukushima Prefecture, which experienced serious impacts from the nuclear accident, the agency cited the need to promote the development of robotics, energy and other new industries. It also called for stepped-up dispatch of information for dispelling negative rumors about products made in the prefecture.

The agency judged that basic infrastructure for daily lives has almost been restored in areas that suffered major damage from the earthquake and tsunami, saying the reconstruction efforts are in their final stage.

Regarding psychological care for affected people, the agency claimed that related measures will be necessary even after the current reconstruction period ends. Jiji Press