The internal affairs ministry Friday advised seven facilities designated to serve as command centers in the event of a nuclear emergency to bolster their safety systems against radiation exposure.
The seven are among 22 command centers across Japan operated by the industry and science ministries. Each was built within 20 km of a nuclear plant so it can expeditiously deal with an emergency.
A recent inspection of 13 centers by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry found that seven would have problems with radioactive contamination in an accident, exposing those inside to the risk of radiation sickness.
The internal affairs ministry thus asked the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry to improve the facilities' ability to shut out radiation.
The centers in question are in Hokkaido, Aomori, Miyagi, Fukushima, Shizuoka, Ishikawa and Ehime prefectures.
Five were found to have ventilation problems, but shielding was found inadequate at all seven facilities.