Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA)Country Report
December 3, 2003
JAPANJapan’s Nuclear Energy Policy
Japan has consistently placed the nuclear fuel cycle at theheart of its nuclear policy – from the dawn, in fact, of its nuclear
development in the 1950’s. In the first Long-Term Program for
Nuclear Research, Development and Utilization, issued in 1956
by the then-new Atomic Energy Commission, it was expressly
stated that, “in order to establish the fuel cycle in the future,
matched to the realities of the nation, Japan will endeavor todevelop and improve technologies, including those for breeder
reactors and nuclear fuel reprocessing.” Our effort today is acontinuation of one begun nearly five decades ago.
Without nuclear power, Japan’s rate of energy self-sufficiency
would be a mere 4%.
resources.

We have virtually no natural energy

As a result, not only must we depend on nuclear

power for our energy security; we must utilize uranium resources
as fully and effectively as possible.

In that sense, we view

recycled nuclear fuel – plutonium – as a “quasi-domestic” energy
resource.
In addition, the threat posed by global warming is now wellrecognized internationally.

Along with other nations, we arecommitted to the fight against global warming, and nuclear
power generation – which emits no carbon dioxide in thegeneration process – is, for that reason, too, an important energy
source for Japan.
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In October of this year, a new document, Japan’s first “BasicPlan for Energy Supply and Demand,” was approved by thecabinet. It positions nuclear generation as a key power source
for Japan, and restates the nation’s commitment to establishing
the nuclear fuel cycle.
The final target in Japan’s nuclear-fuel-cycle program isintroduction of fast breeder reactors for the use and creation ofplutonium.

Because it will still take some time, however, tobring fast breeder reactors to the stage of commercial operation,
we are promoting the burning of MOX fuel in light water reactors
as the first step toward the fuller use of plutonium in time.
Current State of Nuclear Power Generation
Unfortunately, recent years have seen a number of mishaps,
missteps and other setbacks – one after another – in Japan’s
nuclear power generation and fuel-cycle programs. As a result,public confidence in all things nuclear has been severelydamaged.
Starting last year and continuing, as a result of falsificationsof records of self-inspections at nuclear power stations and otheroccurrences, the operation of a number of nuclear power reactors
has been suspended pending confirmation of their safety. Thosereactors have been returned to service one by one as safety has
been confirmed, but overall availability factor has been reduced.
Similarly, as a result of people’s distrust in MOX fuel, whicharose from a falsification of data by the overseas manufacturer in
1999, Japanese utilities have yet to load it in any of their lightwater reactors, and that program, too, is substantially delayed.
As for the fast breeder prototype reactor “Monju”, because of a2sodium leakage in 1995 and so on, prospects for resuming
operation of the reactor remain unclear. Last January, a High
Court pronounced a judgment that it was confirmed that thelicense for establishment of “Monju” was invalid. But the case isbeing appealed to the Supreme Court.
Although the circumstances are thus difficult, what is mostimportant now is steady effort toward recovering people’s
confidence in nuclear power and the nuclear fuel cycle. Towardthat end, the Atomic Energy Commission issued a report titled“The Nuclear Fuel Cycle” this past August, in order to promotebetter understanding by the nation of the fuel cycle program.
As to fast breeder reactors, the final target in our fuel-cycle
effort, our present intention is to remodel “Monju” and put itback into operation. With recognition that “Monju” is, as well,an important facility for the study of fast breeder reactors, wealso plan cooperative research and international exchange
activities.
Similarly, the basic plan for merging two nuclear entities –the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute and the Japan
Nuclear Cycle Development Institute – was finalized lastSeptember, and includes international cooperation as a major
obligation of the new, combined entity.
Nuclear Energy and the International Community
Japan’s absolute commitment in its utilization of nuclear
energy is to exclusively peaceful use.

This is embodied indomestic policies and laws, and in international treaties andbilateral agreements by which Japan abides.

Japan has adeclared policy of not holding surplus plutonium – plutonium for3

no specific purpose.

This past August, the Atomic Energy

Commission – on Japan’s own initiative – issued its “BasicPrinciples for the Utilization of Plutonium in Japan” in an
attempt to further improve transparency.
In order to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy, sustaining
and strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime is ofparamount of importance.

The IAEA Additional Protocol

strengthens its capabilities in inspection by enlarging the scopeof information to be provided to it, and by implementing“complementary access”. In cooperation with the IAEA, Japan
continues to make efforts toward the universalization ofAdditional Protocols. Japan requests nations represented in thisforum that have not yet concluded an Additional Protocol to do sosoon.
Advanced Nuclear Science and Engineering
In the area of nuclear fusion, for which expectations are highas a future energy source, the ITER Project, an international
fusion energy project, is being promoted among its participants.
Japan welcomes participation of China and Korea in the project
this year, giving further momentum toward the international
cooperation. Japan is determined to make a meaningful andsignificant contribution to the realization of ITER, and has
proposed Rokkasho-mura, in Aomori prefecture, as an ITER site.
Under the FNCA, eleven cooperative projects in eight fields
are being carried out. The positive use of radiation is something
all countries are highly interested in. The FNCA projects haveseen some successful results, including the establishment of a
protocol for cancer therapy using radiation, and the wider use of4that protocol.

More projects in medicine, industry andagriculture will be implemented, their results, too, expected to bebeneficial to all countries.
Under a unique FNCA project on public information, theresults of an awareness survey by questionnaire on nuclear
energy and radiation are now being consolidated. In Japan, wemust make efforts in particular to help the younger generation
understand radiation and its uses better and more accurately.
Closing
The vision of the FNCA is to contribute to the development ofsocieties and economies through active partnerships in the region,on the basis of mutual understanding and cooperation. In Asia,conditions in each country are different, and it is necessary thatcooperation among nations take those differences into account.
Japansupports

self-help

efforts

towardtechnologicaldevelopment by individual countries. In this way, each country
can independently achieve its own research and development
capabilities, and successful uses of nuclear science andtechnology.
Japan will continue to promote international cooperation inAsia through the FNCA and other frameworks.

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