Prosecutors on Monday decided not to indict former Prime Minister Naoto Kan or any officials from Tokyo Electric Power Co. over the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 plant because of the lack of criminal responsibility.
"It was difficult to foresee the scale of the earthquake and tsunami," the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office said of the government's response to the natural disasters in Tohoku that triggered the man-made meltdowns in Fukushima Prefecture in March 2011.
About 14,700 people from groups across Japan, but mainly in Fukushima Prefecture, filed complaints against Kan and 41 other individuals for alleged professional negligence resulting in death and injury in connection with the nuclear disaster, which was triggered when the poorly protected power station lost all power after being hit by the quake and subsequent tsunami.