JAPAN: Japanese lawmaker hands over letter about Fukushima nuclear fears to the Emperor and sparks political firestorm

Record ID: 216075

  • Title: JAPAN: Japanese lawmaker hands over letter about Fukushima nuclear fears to the Emperor and sparks political firestorm
  • Date: 1st November 2013
  • Summary: FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR PLANT, FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (FILE - MARCH 2013) (REUTERS) FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR PLANT MORE OF PLANT FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR PLANT, FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (FILE - SEPTEMBER 2013) (REUTERS) WORKERS INSIDE OF BUILDING WORKERS LOOKING AROUND KORIYAMA CITY, FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (FILE - JUNE 2013 ) (REUTERS) WORKERS DECONTAM
  • Embargoed: 16th November 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Disasters,General,Politics,Royalty
  • Reuters ID: LVABEEYB5A6SNCWVGXTAF12HR4N6
  • Story Text: A Japanese lawmaker handed Emperor Akihito a letter on Thursday (October 31) expressing fear about the health impact of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, breaking a taboo by trying to involve the emperor in politics.
    Taro Yamamoto, who is also an anti-nuclear activist, gave Akihito the letter during a garden party, setting off a storm of protest on the Internet from critics shocked at his action.
    Akihito inclined his head as he took the letter in his hand but then handed it to a nearby chamberlain. Yamamoto said he made no comment.
    Some Internet critics called on Yamamoto to resign from parliament. "This was really low," one critic wrote in a Web forum.
    He was summoned before a group of fellow lawmakers in parliament's Upper House on Friday (November 1) to explain.
    "The fact that I myself handed over a letter to the Emperor is just because I wanted him to know my personal feelings about the current situation on the ground. In eastern Japan there are children coming down with many health problems and there are people who are working in radioactive conditions who are just being ignored - this is the reality. I just wanted to convey that to him," Yamamoto said.
    But some lawmakers expressed disapproval.
    "We are of the opinion that those who are invited to the garden party should should use common sense, both as an invitee and also as a lawmaker, in such a situation," Katsunobu Kato, the deputy chief cabinet secretary said.
    About 150,000 people were evacuated from around the plant which suffered a series of explosions and meltdowns. A large area of surrounding land is off-limits due to high radiation.
    U.N. scientists said this year the evacuation helped prevent rising cancer rates and other health problems. Traces of radioactive contamination have been found in rice and far out in the Pacific Ocean.
    Akihito, who turns 80 in December, fills a purely ceremonial role and remains above the political fray.
    He has striven to draw the imperial family closer to the people. Conservative Japanese revere him, while many others feel a fond affection towards him. Some Japanese see the family as irrelevant.
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