A protest took place at the gate of a Japanese nuclear power plant as it was restarted yesterday – the first such facility to go back online since the country shut down all of its reactors for safety checks following the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Ohi nuclear plant’s reactor No 3 returned to operation despite a deep division in public opinion.
Last month, prime minister Yoshihiko Noda ordered the restarts of reactors No 3 and 4, saying living standards can not be maintained without nuclear energy.
Tens of thousands of people gathered on Friday evening around Mr Noda’s official residence, chanting, “Saikado hantai”, or “No to nuclear restarts”. Protests drawing such numbers are extremely rare in Japan, often known for orderly conformity. – (Reuters)