In Tokyo, more than a hundred citizens gathered to remember the fifteenth anniversary of the Fukushima incident, a tragedy that resulted from the collapse of the nuclear plant due to an earthquake followed by a tsunami.
During the demonstration, participants expressed their rejection of nuclear energy and atomic weapons.
The protest took place in front of the headquarters of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), operator of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, damaged on March 11, 2011. This Wednesday marks the fifteenth anniversary of an event that left a legacy of devastation and loss of lives.
At 18:30 local time (09:30 GMT), the protesters gathered carrying banners with messages like “Protect our children and future” and “No to nuclear weapons.”
Fukushima Anniversary
They blamed TEPCO for the accident that occurred after the earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan, which caused more than 20,000 deaths and disappearances.
One of the protesters, a woman around 50 years old who preferred anonymity, expressed her outrage towards the electric company, which she considers responsible for the disaster.
She herself attends the protest annually, firmly opposing the reactivation of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, the largest in the world in terms of capacity, managed by TEPCO. The reactivation planned for January was delayed due to technical problems.
Another citizen, about 70 years old and surnamed Sato, commented that restarting operations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, located in Niigata prefecture, carries serious risks. She declared her conviction that Japan can do without nuclear energy.
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, with a capacity exceeding 8,000 MW, is crucial for TEPCO’s energy policy, aligning with the Japanese government’s objectives, led by Sanae Takaichi, to reduce emissions through the promotion of nuclear energy.
During a solemn ceremony in Fukushima, Takaichi highlighted the progress in the rehabilitation of the affected areas.
Despite efforts, the impact of the nuclear accident remains present in the region, while Japan remembers the more than 20,000 victims of the earthquake and tsunami fifteen years ago.
In numerous coastal towns, ceremonies were held to honor those who died in the tsunami caused by one of the strongest earthquakes recorded in the country.
Protesters in Tokyo criticize the government’s intention to reactivate the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, a central piece in the national energy strategy.
As they commemorate the victims of the disaster in the Tōhoku region, participants emphasize the lasting consequences of the accident.
