Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka acknowledged Friday that the government response to the nuclear accident was too slow. He added it is shameful that such an accident could occur at all, in a modern nation. The accident is the latest in a series of mishaps that continue to plague the nuclear industry here. The Tokaimura complex has been the scene of several accidents in recent years. Following Thursday's explosion, at least 55 people were exposed to radiation, including two workers who remain in a critical condition.
Japan relies heavily on nuclear power because it is poor in natural resources.
Fifty-one atomic plants provide one third of the country's electricity. Yet environmentalists say the nuclear industry here has no culture of safety. A top official at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry says Japan should reconsider its nuclear power policy because the accident was so serious.