Chapter 24
Issues of HLW Disposal in Japan
Kenji Yamaji
Abstract Concerning the disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in Japan,
the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO) has been making
efforts toward beginning a literature survey, a first step of HLW disposal according
to fundamental policies and final disposal plan based on the “Designated Radioactive Waste Final Disposal Act.” However, a difficult situation continues in which
responses from municipalities, which are necessary for beginning a literature
survey, are not being made.
In September 2010 the Science Council of Japan (SCJ) received a deliberation
request from the Chairman of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission, and SCJ
formed a Review Committee for Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste. The
Review Committee made a Reply on Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste in
September 2012, in which six proposals are made including safe temporal storage
and management of the total amount of HLW. In this chapter, an outline of the
current HLW disposal policy in Japan and the contents of the Reply are introduced.
Keywords Geological disposal • High-level radioactive waste (HLW) • Risk
• Temporal safe storage
24.1 Concerns on HLW
HLW stands for high-level radioactive waste. Concern about the safety of HLW
disposal is another important element for the public in deciding their choice of
nuclear power along with the safety issues related to nuclear power plant operation.
Former Prime Minister Koizumi changed his political stance clearly after the
Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011, from pro-nuclear to anti-nuclear,
mainly on the basis of his concern about the safety of HLW disposal.
K. Yamaji (*)
Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE), 9-2 Kizugawadai,
Kizugawa-shi, Kyoto 619-0292, Japan
e-mail: yamaji@rite.or.jp
© The Author(s) 2015
K. Nakajima (ed.), Nuclear Back-end and Transmutation Technology for Waste
Disposal, DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55111-9_24
279
Issues of HLW Disposal in Japan
Kenji Yamaji
Abstract Concerning the disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in Japan,
the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO) has been making
efforts toward beginning a literature survey, a first step of HLW disposal according
to fundamental policies and final disposal plan based on the “Designated Radioactive Waste Final Disposal Act.” However, a difficult situation continues in which
responses from municipalities, which are necessary for beginning a literature
survey, are not being made.
In September 2010 the Science Council of Japan (SCJ) received a deliberation
request from the Chairman of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission, and SCJ
formed a Review Committee for Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste. The
Review Committee made a Reply on Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste in
September 2012, in which six proposals are made including safe temporal storage
and management of the total amount of HLW. In this chapter, an outline of the
current HLW disposal policy in Japan and the contents of the Reply are introduced.
Keywords Geological disposal • High-level radioactive waste (HLW) • Risk
• Temporal safe storage
24.1 Concerns on HLW
HLW stands for high-level radioactive waste. Concern about the safety of HLW
disposal is another important element for the public in deciding their choice of
nuclear power along with the safety issues related to nuclear power plant operation.
Former Prime Minister Koizumi changed his political stance clearly after the
Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011, from pro-nuclear to anti-nuclear,
mainly on the basis of his concern about the safety of HLW disposal.
K. Yamaji (*)
Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE), 9-2 Kizugawadai,
Kizugawa-shi, Kyoto 619-0292, Japan
e-mail: yamaji@rite.or.jp
© The Author(s) 2015
K. Nakajima (ed.), Nuclear Back-end and Transmutation Technology for Waste
Disposal, DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55111-9_24
279