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

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.