Japan 7 Days - Season 2 / Year 2011

Japan's national legislature began a regular session this week, as the Kan administration confronts an array of challenges. Not the least of these is passing a budget for the fiscal year that starts in April. 

Finding a balance between social welfare programs and tax revenue is another issue high on the agenda. Opposition parties, however, are not in a cooperative mood. The Liberal Democratic Party in particular hopes to unseat the Democratic Party and return to power within the year.

Guest: Sheila Smith, Senior Fellow for Japan Studies, Council on Foreign Relations (Washington, DC)

The extent of the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11 is being discovered, day by day. One week has passed since the magnitude 9.0 quake sent the northeastern Tohoku region into convulsions. Tsunami more than 10 meters high set off a series of safety system failures at a nuclear plant, where the situation continued to deteriorate. We'll examine events since the catastrophic quake and report on relief operations underway.

Two weeks after the earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan, more than 20,000 people are dead or unaccounted for. Work goes on to help survivors in affected areas, but daily necessities and drugs are not reaching many of the shelters. In part, this is because of the vastness of the area that was devastated, making restoration of infrastructure extremely difficult. 

We'll examine the current situation in affected areas and discuss challenges that lie ahead with a university professor who worked for the reconstruction of Kobe after the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. We'll also talk with a doctor from the Japanese Red Cross who rushed to the affected area immediately after the quake. 

Guests:
Yoshiaki Kawata, Kansai University Professor, and Disaster Prevention & Human Renovation Inst. Director
Yasuyuki Mochida, Doctor, Omori Red Cross Hospital

Three weeks have passed since the earthquake and tsunami wreaked havoc across northeastern Japan. More than 28,000 people are dead or missing. 170,000 survivors are leading the lives of refugees. As time passes, more information about the scale of the disaster becomes known. It now appears that tidal waves swelled to 30 meters in some places. The extent of the damage to farming, fishing, and manufacturing is also becoming apparent. As for the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the situation remains serious, with worldwide implications. France and the United States are providing assistance in efforts to stabilize the condition of the facility. The chairman of TEPCO, the utility company that runs the plant, has acknowledged the necessity of decommissioning at least four of the damaged reactors.

Monday will be one month since the earthquake and tsunami ravaged northeastern Japan. Recovery and rebuilding efforts are underway. However, those sorts of activities are still months away, at best, around the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Work there is still concentrated with the basic task of containing the leak of radiation. All the while, evacuees from around the facility continue living in shelters and relocation centers, unable to get started on restoring their own community. 

With the release of radiation continuing, the government has begun considering revising evacuation guidelines to reflect the annual amount received rather than exposure over a few days.

We'll examine the latest information on the scale of damage and evidence of how reconstruction is proceeding.

Guest:
Shunichi Yamashita (Nagasaki University Professor and Advisor to Fukushima Prefecture on Radiation Health Risk Management)
Yoshiteru Murosaki (Kwansei Gakuin University Professor)

Update on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant:
- Images from inside reactor buildings
- Status of the disposal of contaminated water
- Prime Minister Naoto Kan's visit to affected areas
- "No-entry zone" established around the plant

Topic of the Week: What to make of radiation readings?
An expert explains the meaning of radiation measurements at various places: inside the Fukushima Daiichi plant where high levels of radiation are hampering work, around Fukushima Prefecture, and in Tokyo and other cities far from the plant.

Feature
Overseas travelers look away from Japan. Tourist spots across the country are feeling the effects.

Seismic Sensing Technology Aids Bullet Trains All 27 scheduled bullet trains running in northeastern Japan on March 11th reduced their speed at the first sign of tremors, before the main impact of the earthquake arrived. Some had been running as fast as 300 kilometers per hour, but they all stopped safely. Seismic wave sensing technology is what prevented derailments. In 2007, the technology was employed to provide warnings of impending quakes via television and other media. It now also is used in sending alerts to individuals' cell phones. Mexico is the only other country with a similar system. In Japan, the warning comes only about 30 seconds in advance, but 30 seconds can make a dramatic difference. We'll meet one of the designers of the system and discuss how those 30 seconds can be used to make decisions and save lives.

Nearly two months have passed since the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. On this week's program, newscaster Minori Takao reports on her trip to one of the hardest-hit areas, Minamisanriku-cho in Miyagi prefecture. The coverage will include an update on the situation of people seen in previous programs and an assessment of progress in repairing and restoring the lives of those in the region. The program will feature the voices of people directly affected, telling their own stories.

The continuing crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has caused a reconsideration of the safety of nuclear plants in other parts of the country. Prime Minister Kan requested the shutdown of the Hamaoka plant in Shizuoka prefecture, because of its proximity to a geological fault line and the potential for tsunami. After consideration, the utility company agreed to the request.

In this week's program, we'll consider the reasons behind the Prime Minister's action, and we'll report on recent steps taken at the Fukushima facility. We'll also examine the nationwide effects of the situation.

Guest: Akira Yamaguchi, Professor, Osaka University

Nearly two-thirds of respondents to an NHK survey say that they don't approve of the government's handling of the Fukushima nuclear crisis. However, an even greater number support the shutdown of the Hamaoka plant at the urging of Prime Minister Kan. The government says it will review Japan's long-term energy policy with the goal of reducing dependence on nuclear power. However, it has not yet set out concrete measures. As for aid to people directly affected by the nuclear crisis, it has put forth a timetable but is still working out the specifics of compensation.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan delivered a speech at the beginning of the G8 summit, in an attempt to convince world leaders that the country has charted a course for recovery. The heads of state were anxious for an explanation of why Japan's nuclear safety policies failed and what will be done. The Prime Minister set forth a new energy policy, with an emphasis on using renewable resources. We'll report on what that shift of policy might involve, including solar and geothermal power generation.

A no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Naoto Kan was voted down in the Diet. However, Kan said he will step down in any case when issues related to the March 11th disaster and the nuclear crisis are brought under control.

The Japanese government's investigation and verification committee on the nuclear accident held its first meeting this week. Electricity has been restored to more than 90 % of households in areas affected by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, except for evacuation zones in Fukushima. Water service has been slower to recover. Regional disparties have become conspicuous. We'll describe the current conditions and challenges by showing how people living in the stricken areas are trying to overcome their problems.

Three months after the earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese government has simplified procedure for registering death. The new procedures are causing many families to confront the difficult decision of whether to conclude that missing loved ones will never be found. Our report profiles people struggling to accept the reality, even though that acceptance can help them begin rebuilding their own lives. Social media are helping establish community ties in Fukushima. For a charity event in the city of Iwaki, Twitter was used to connect organizers, disaster victims, and participants. Our story will examine the roles that social media have played during the disaster and reconstruction.

Many local governments in Japan have started to measure radiation on a regular basis in response to anxiety expressed by residents. Employees of firms from abroad are also receiving information, from their employers. A number of such persons left Japan when the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant spun out of control. They have, to a great extent, returned. Our report considers differences in the ways Japan and the United States approach crisis control, and examines a survey on the subject conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce.

Chusonji Temple and other historic places in the town of Hiraizumi have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. The sites are located in Iwate prefecture, which suffered significant damage on March 11th. Residents are hoping the World Heritage designation will attract tourists and boost reconstruction in the area. Efforts are already underway to make the most of the selection through the sale of souvenirs and the promotion of products made by companies affected by the disaster. Other news: - More troubles for new cooling system at Fukushima nuclear plant - Mt. Fuji climbing season starts

The victory of Japan's women's soccer squad has given people in Japan something to smile about, after months of non-stop worry over earthquakes, tsunami, and nuclear meltdowns. Wherever the team members go, they're greeted by thousands of fans. Now that the matches are over, they can relax and give fans a glimpse of their everyday personalities. Their victory has also inspired teenagers to aspire to become Nadeshiko team members of the future. Other news: - Radiation-tainted beef shipped across Japan causes fears about food safety - Tourist-related businesses try various tactics to revive travel to Japan

The meltdowns at Fukushima and off-line inspections at other nuclear power plants have required people in many parts of Japan to change their ways. Utility companies and the government are asking households and businesses alike to curb their use of electricity.

In response, some companies have introduced a type of daylight-saving-time system to adjust working hours. Those on the new schedules now find it's still light when they're done. That's encouraged them to seek out classes for their hobbies or devote more time to socializing. 

Businesses are also looking for ways to capitalize on the new timing. Our report examines the changes that energy conservation is bringing to summer in Japan.

Other news: 
- Japan still can't get enough of its World Cup Champions, Nadeshiko 
- Signs of recovery from the earthquake and tsunami: 
Sendai Airport reopens and tours of the tuna wholesale area in Tokyo's Tsukiji market resume.

Matashichi Oishi was exposed to nuclear fallout from a US hydrogen bomb test on Bikini Atoll in 1954 as a crewmember of the Daigo Fukuryu-maru trawler. Now 77, he's concerned about Japan's most recent nuclear hazard. Oishi attended a conference of the Japan Congress against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, held in Fukushima prefecture. He talked with people from the area who are worried about how the meltdown of the Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant may affect them. Oishi spoke about his own experience and his continued medical problems. Other news: - Hiroshima peace declaration to call for review of Japan's energy policy - Rice to be included in farm products checked for radiation

In mid-August, people across Japan observe Obon, the time when--according to tradition--souls of ancestors and departed family members return home. This month's Obon activities are the first since the earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of eastern Japan. Numerous events were held to remember those who died. In some places, traditional dances were performed for the departed souls. Other ceremonies involved prayers for the speedy recovery of the stricken region, including a fire-burning ritual using wood from a forest that was leveled by the tsunami. People also were taking practical steps to hasten the recovery prayed for. In the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture, a shopping arcade created from a string of trailers opened for business, putting 100 people back to work. Other news: - Soaring temperatures cause heat stroke across the nation.

A stall set up in Tokyo's Tsukiji Market is selling vegetables and fruit picked each morning in the Fukushima prefecture village of Tamakawa. Tsukuji is Japan's biggest wholesale market and attracts large numbers of visitors. Farmers from the village hope the shop will help them overcome concerns that their produce might be contaminated by radiation. Tamakawa is separated from the Fukushima nuclear power plant by more than 50 km. Sales people from the prefecture working at Tsukuji do their best to dispel the rumors. Others at the market are also providing support. Members of an NPO there are updating recipes on the Internet using Fukushima vegetables in an attempt to boost sales. Other news: - Bargain-hunting to benefit from a stronger yen - Nadeshiko Japan practices for Olympic qualifying rounds

Japan once again has a new Prime Minister, its 95th. Democratic Party president Yoshihiko Noda succeeds Naoto Kan in the job. His top priority is implementing reconstruction from the March 11th disaster. That involves numerous decisions related to rebuilding survivors' lives and bringing the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant under control) Financial matters also are demanding his attention. The yen continues to trade at historic high levels amid uncertainties over the US and European economies. Paradoxically, the rating of government bonds has been downgraded, and the nation's fiscal condition remains unsettled. Noda will also have to manage a number of diplomatic issues, including how to manage Japan's relationship with the United States, China, and other Asian countries. Our program will profile the new Prime Minister and examine the challenges facing his new administration. Other news: - Map shows contaminated soil around troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant - Nadeshiko women's soccer team wins first match in Asian final qualifying round for the Olympics

Reconstruction Challenges Six Months after the Great East Japan Earthquake Six months have passed since the earthquake and tsunami wreaked havoc on northeastern Japan. This week's Japan 7 Days examines the current situation, the progress to date, and the challenges for reconstruction. Physical Infrastructure Minamisanriku, in Miyagi Prefecture, is one of the hardest-hit communities. Newscaster Minori Takao went back to the town for the first time since May to assess the progress in reconstruction of infrastructure and removal of rubble. She also reports on how a temporary shopping street is restoring some sense of normalcy to residents' daily lives. Social Infrastructure All of Minamisanriku's evacuation centers were closed by the end of August, once people were relocated to temporary housing. While they have a roof over their head, they lack the community ties that had been established in their old neighborhoods. The town has started sending personnel around to make sure residents don't fall into isolation. Temporary home dwellers have also taken steps of their own, including setting up a "salon" to foster communication. Business and Industry Fishing used to be a lucrative occupation in the Omoe district of the city of Miyako. Some fishermen earned more than $130,000 dollars annually. The tsunami, however, washed away most of the area's 800 fishing vessels. A lack of financial aid from the government made things worse. The local fishermen's association started collaborative projects to help, but income has fallen dramatically. The fishermen, however, are not giving up. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Updates on Reactors 1-4 and impediments to resolving the crisis. Persons Displaced by the Fukushima Meltdown All 11,000 residents of the town where four of the six Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant reactors are located don't know whether they will be able to return. Some are coming to terms with the necessity of restarting their lives

Smartphones and tablet devices are making a place for themselves in the game industry. Established methods of play are being joined by the new electronic tools, as reflected by the displays at the Tokyo Game Show. With sales of household consoles and their software leveling off, developers are turning their attention to on-line games that allow multiple players to participate. Other news: - Survivors of the earthquake and tsunami offer prayers for the victims six months after the disaster. - Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda delivers initial policy speech. - Nadeshiko women's soccer team qualifies for the 2012 London Olympics. We'll have excerpts from an interview with captain Homare Sawa.

The recent Tokyo Fashion Week featured collections of young Japanese designers made with locally-produced fabrics and high levels of craftsmanship. For many years, the country's fashion industry has been a favorite of discerning customers around the world, hungry for the latest clothes from designers such as Issey Miyake, COMME des GARÇONS and Yohji Yamamoto. But the prolonged economic slump and the rise of fast fashion have cut into demand for their products. Small-and-medium-sized sewing factories in the country are also having difficulty maintaining their businesses and preserving their craftsmanship. Under such circumstances, the industry is looking for ways to reinvent itself, nurturing young designers and supporting fabric makers and sewing plants. Japan's Industry Ministry and the government of Tokyo's Shibuya ward have begun providing support to designers so they can start companies and develop bases for their businesses. Other News: - Development of batteries that don't need cobalt may reduce dependence on the rare earth metal. - Japanese companies are taking steps to offset the business effects of flooding in Thailand.

After several weeks of denying financial irregularities, optical instrument manufacturer Olympus has admitted hiding investment losses that began in the 1990s.
In 2001, Japan introduced revised accounting standards, requiring companies to report their securities and other financial assets at the market value at the time of their account settlement. Some financial observers say the change may have been what led Olympus to begin transferring losses to foreign funds. Critics wonder why auditing and corporate governance didn't catch the problem.

Other News: 
- Prime Minister Noda says Japan will consult with participants of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks before committing to fully joining the negotiations.
- Evolving humanoid robot ASIMO learns new skills: lifting a canteen lid to pour juice into a glass, and stepping aside to avoid running into an approaching person.

In Japan, a stagnant economy and a dwindling number of young people have caused many companies to rethink their business models. Many of them have found success by marketing products to women in their late 30s and 40s, the time at which they are likely to have finished the busiest period of child raising. At that age, they're willing and able to spend considerable sums of money to satisfy the desire to remain fit and ever-beautiful. 

Lovely, youthful-looking women of that generation are now known as "bimajo," which-literally translated-means "beautiful witch." Magazines have glorified them as evidence that any woman has potential to become just as beautiful as long as she's willing to keep up a regimen of skin care and exercise. Companies that sell related goods and services are, of course, quite willing to encourage that attitude. 

Our story looks at who and what's involved in the multi-billion dollar "bimajo"market.

Other News: 
- Japanese-made supercomputer "K" retains its rank as the world's fastest. Its capabilities can affect the way we live.