Disaster Experience and Participatory   Energy   Governance in Post-Disaster Japan: A Survey of Citizen   Willingness to Participate in Nuclear and Energy Deliberations

Hidenori Nakamura

doi:10.20965/jdr.2014.p0665

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JDR Vol.9 No.sp pp. 665-672

(2014)

doi: 10.20965/jdr.2014.p0665

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Disaster Experience and Participatory Energy Governance in Post-Disaster Japan: A Survey of Citizen Willingness to Participate in Nuclear and Energy Deliberations

Hidenori Nakamura

Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan

Received:

March 29, 2014

Accepted:

June 25, 2014

Published:

September 1, 2014

Keywords:

participatory governance, energy policy, disaster, nuclear power, deliberation

Abstract

This study, which is based on an online social survey, confirms that Japanese citizens after the Fukushima nuclear accident are willing to participate in both a national, random sampling deliberation on the management of nuclear power plant accidents or of nuclear waste and spent fuel as well as in local deliberations on disaster preparation. At the same time, citizen eagerness to join national public deliberations on decontamination and human support after the Fukushima accident is less than that of local disaster preparation. The personal damage experienced in the Fukushima accident enhanced the inclination to engage in national public discussions on nuclear related issues. The Japanese national government should continue random sampling-based deliberations on nuclear and energy policy (accident and waste), following the examples of local governments on local themes.

Cite this article as:

H. Nakamura, “Disaster Experience and Participatory Energy Governance in Post-Disaster Japan: A Survey of Citizen Willingness to Participate in Nuclear and Energy Deliberations,” J. Disaster Res., Vol.9 No.sp, pp. 665-672, 2014.

Data files:

References

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This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationa License.

[1] [1] M. A. Schreurs, “Environmental Politics in Japan, Germany, and the United States,” Cambridge University Press, 2002.

[2] [2] H. Funabashi, “Why the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster is a Manmade Calamity,” Int. Journal of Japanese Sociology, Vol.21, pp. 65-75, 2012.

[3] [3] “Tettei Togi Nihon no Enerugi Kankyo Senryaku (Public Debate on the Innovative Strategy for Energy and the Environment),” Sophia University Press, 2014.

[4] [4] H. Nakamura, “Local Energy Governance in Post-Fukushima Japan: A Survey of Citizen Willingness to Participate in Local Energy Policy Deliberations,” Local Environment, 2014.

[5] [5] T. Sato, “Shimin Togi Kai no Hirogari to Sono Doko (Extension of Citizen Deliberation Meeting and its Trend),” Chiiki Kaihatsu (Local Development), Vol.7, pp. 7-11, 2012.

[6] [6] T. Otsuka, “Sogo Keikaku Sakutei Purosesu heno Jumin Sanka no Koka to Kadai: Musakui Chushutsu ni yoru Chokusetsu Sanka gata Jumin Sanka Shuho no Kanosei (Effects and Issues of Public Participation in the Process of Comprehensive Planning: Potential of Direct Public Participation through Random Selection),” Seisaku Keiei Kenkyu (Policy and Management Studies), Vol.4, pp. 39-50, 2010.

[7] [7] N. Mikami, “Shisei heno Shimin Sanka no Suishin to Toron Gata Seron Chosa (Promoting Citizen Participation in City Policy and Deliberative Polling),” Sapporo City Government, 2012.

[8] [8] Enerugi Kankyo Kaigi (Energy and Environment Ministerial Committee), “Enerugi Kankyo Kaigi (Energy and Environment Ministerial Committee),” 2012,
http://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/npu/policy09/archive01.html [accessed July 10, 2013]

[9] [9] Enerugi Kankyo Senryaku Shimin Togi Jikko Iinkai (Citizen Deliberation Committee for Energy and Environment Strategy), “Secchi Shushi (Objective of the Committee),” 2012,
http://www.zenkokunet.org/ene-kan-kikin24/index.html [accessed July 10, 2013]

[10] [10] Minna no Enerugi Kankyo Kaigi (Everyone’s Energy and Environment Conference), “Setsuritsu Shushi (About MEEC),” 2012,
http://www.meec.jp/ [accessed July 10, 2013]

[11] [11] Minna de Kimeyo “Genpatsu” Kokumin Tohyo (Let Us Decide Together: National Referendum on “Nuclear Power”), ““Genpatsu” Kokumin Tohyo (National Referendum on “Nuclear Power”),” 2011,
http://kokumintohyo.com/ [accessed December 15, 2013]

[12] [12] H. Imai, ““Genpatsu” Kokumin Tohyo (National Referendum on “Nuclear Power”),” Shueisha, 2011.

[13] [13] K. Kokubun, “Kitaru beki Minshu Shugi: Kodaira Shi To-do 328 Go Sen to Kindai Seiji Tetsugaku no Sho Mondai (The Democracy to Come: Metropolitan Route 328 in Kodaira City and Problems in Modern Political Philosophy),” Gentosha, 2013.

[14] [14] Independent Investigation Commission on the Fukushima Nuclear Accident, “Investigation Report (in Japanese),” Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, 2012.

[15] [15] M. Yagishita, “Haiburiddo gata Kaigi no Katsuyo no Kanosei to Genkai: “Nagoya Junkan gata Shakai Shimin Teian Kaigi” no Jissen wo Tsujite (Potentials, Limits, and Prospects of Hybrid-type Citizens’ Participatory Conference for Decision Making Process: Through Conducting Conference of “Citizens’ Proposal for Nagoya Environmentally Sound Material-Cycle Society”),” Shakai Gijutsu Kenkyu Ronbun Shu (Journal of Social Technology Studies), Vol.8, pp. 183-193, 2011.

[16] [16] G. Yoshizawa, “Anticipatory and Participatory Governance: Revisiting Technology Assessment on Nuclear Energy in Japan,” Journal of Disaster Research, Vol.7, pp. 511-516, 2012.