2022 Volume 7 Issue 1 Pages 13-24
In Japan, finding a candidate site suitable for safe and reliable disposal of high-level radioactive waste
(HLW) has long been a significant challenge due to people’s antagonistic attitude, which is often referred to as the “Not In My BackYard (NIMBY) syndrome”. In January 2007, Toyo Town in Kochi Prefecture applied for a literature survey, which comprised the first stage of the siting process for a final disposal site for HLW, as provided in the Designated Radioactive Waste Final Disposal Act. However, the municipality experienced serious dispute among the citizens over the Toyo Town Mayor’s decision, and subsequent to the mayoral election in April 2007, the newly elected mayor immediately withdrew the application for the literature survey. In October 2020, Suttsu Town in Hokkaido Prefecture applied for a literature survey, and in November 2020, the survey started in the municipality. However, Town council members and citizens opposing the survey launched campaigns against the HLW repository siting process and the Suttsu Town Mayor’s decision. Based on comparative analysis of these cases in the respective municipalities from the viewpoint of procedural fairness, this paper discusses the factors causing the disputes and opposition, and highlights the importance of engaging stakeholders in building societal consensus before making political decisions.
