Onagawa-cho, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan – Recent

Storyline:
Japan is set to restart its first nuclear reactor in the country's northeast in September since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, which was triggered by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake.

Activists are trying to stop the restart of the Onagawa nuclear plant, citing concerns about inadequate safeguards in the face of similar disasters.

The plant's operator, Tohoku Power, says the reactor will help meet more than half of the region's energy needs.

Fishermen, whose export business has been affected by nuclear waste from the Fukushima incident, are concerned that the restart without adequate security could add to their trade difficulties.

The Onagawa plant survived the tsunami waves that hit the site in 2011, even though it was much closer to the epicenter of the quake than Fukushima. That's largely thanks to a tsunami wall. In preparation for the restart, the wall has been doubled in height.

However, there are other potential hazards. Local resident Nobuo Hara said the plant's location on a narrow peninsula makes evacuation in the event of a disaster potentially dangerous.

Although officials in Miyagi Prefecture, where the plant is located, have drawn up an emergency plan, Hara sued the prefecture to stop the restart.

The local government says the public largely supports the plan, but a local newspaper in 2020 reported that 61 percent of them opposed the restart, while only 36 percent supported it.

Satoshi Tatara, a representative with Miyagi Action Against Onagawa Recommission, said there may be other reasons for this reluctance to restart after the nuclear disaster.

Shotlist:
Onagawa-cho, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan – Recent:
1. Various of Onagawa nuclear power plant, coast;
2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese dubbed in English) Hiroshi Takano, former Onagawa Council member (starting with shot 1):
"Fishers' are already suffering from the treated waste being discharged from Fukushima. If there's a restart in Onagawa, and another accident occurs, they'll suffer even more.";
3. Various of Onagawa-cho landscape;
4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese dubbed in English) Nobuo Hara, local resident (starting with shot 3):
"We drilled the evacuation plan and found the roads became congested with evacuees. We couldn't reach the final evacuation center or transport essentials. We learned that Miyagi prefecture’s plan has no applied effectiveness.";
Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan – Recent:
5. Various of Sendai City;
6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese dubbed in English) Satoshi Tatara, representative, Miyagi Action Against Onagawa Recommission (starting with shot 5):
"We believe officials are under the sway of the powerful pro-nuclear lobby in Japan. It supports the ruling party with huge donations. That becomes the priority over the lives and safety of residents.";
Onagawa-cho, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan – Recent:
7. Various of Onagawa nuclear power plant, coast.

[RESTRICTIONS: No access Chinese mainland]