The worst case scenario is the worst government.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 8:00 am
Early in the morning on the 12th, the day after the earthquake, Prime Minister Kan suddenly said he wanted to inspect the site, and took a Self-Defense Force helicopter to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Just after the problems with Units 1 and 3 had been discovered, the site was busy responding, but the sudden inspection meant that the person in charge had to greet the Prime Minister.
There is no direct causal relationship between this and the subsequent worsening situation at the nuclear power plant. However, TEPCO later stated in a press conference, "If only we had released the steam a remove background image little earlier," and "If only we had started injecting water a little earlier." Even in light of the nuclear accident that followed, Prime Minister Kan's responsibility for halting work at the site deserves to be killed.
The response of the Prime Minister's Office after the hydrogen explosion at Unit 1 in the afternoon of the same day was also poor. There was a possibility of a radiation leak, and prompt information was required to promptly instruct surrounding residents to evacuate, but Prime Minister Suga prioritized his own performance. He delayed the press conference until the evening. His first words at the press conference were, "I inspected the site in a Self-Defense Force helicopter at 6 a.m. today." This was after the explosion. It can only be described as insanity. And without answering any questions from reporters, he left the specific explanation to the Chief Cabinet Secretary and ran away.
There is no direct causal relationship between this and the subsequent worsening situation at the nuclear power plant. However, TEPCO later stated in a press conference, "If only we had released the steam a remove background image little earlier," and "If only we had started injecting water a little earlier." Even in light of the nuclear accident that followed, Prime Minister Kan's responsibility for halting work at the site deserves to be killed.
The response of the Prime Minister's Office after the hydrogen explosion at Unit 1 in the afternoon of the same day was also poor. There was a possibility of a radiation leak, and prompt information was required to promptly instruct surrounding residents to evacuate, but Prime Minister Suga prioritized his own performance. He delayed the press conference until the evening. His first words at the press conference were, "I inspected the site in a Self-Defense Force helicopter at 6 a.m. today." This was after the explosion. It can only be described as insanity. And without answering any questions from reporters, he left the specific explanation to the Chief Cabinet Secretary and ran away.