Japanese Diet Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission official report published

Kurokawa at a press conference after the release of the report. A medical doctor, Kurokawa is also an Academic Fellow at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, and is former President of the National Science Council of JapanThe Japanese Diet's (Parliament) Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission, chaired by Kiyoshi Kurokawa (photo left), has released its official report. An 88 page English language executive summary is currently available. The full 641 page report's English translation is due out in the near future. The report is based on 900 hours of testimony collected from 1,167 witnesses.

Major findings include the fact that deep "collusion" between the Japanese government, so-called safety regulators, and the nuclear power industry inevitably led to the "profoundly man-made" Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe, as ordered safeguards against earthquakes were long delayed, and tsunami risks were entirely ignored. In addition, the Commission raises the distinct possibility that the 9.0 earthquake so damaged the Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 reactor that its meltdown was well under way before the tsunami struck about 50 minutes later. The report also describes the disastrous emergency response and fatally flawed evacuation efforts. 

Extensive media coverage about the release of this report took place on July 5th and 6th, much of it commenting on the report's implications for the growing Japanese public opposition to atomic reactor restarts due to ongoing seismic and tsunami risks. The media coverage has included: the Wall Street Journal; the Washington Post; the London Independent; the London Guardian, including on the role of Japan's culture in the catastrophe;