Editorials Aug 6, 2020
While the disposal of the spent nuclear fuel is big challenge that must be tackled, it should not stop the government and the power industry from rethinking the costly fuel cycle program.
Editorials Feb 20, 2020
The government and the power industry need to proceed with a long-overdue review of the the MOX nuclear fuel cycle policy.
National Jul 31, 2019
The nation's plutonium stockpile had shrunk as of the end of 2018 by about 1.6 tons from a year earlier, to 45.7 tons, reflecting increased plutonium thermal power generation, the Cabinet Office said Tuesday. Concerns have grown internationally as Japan possesses a large amount of ...
World Feb 1, 2019
U.S. secretly shipped Cold War-era plutonium to Nevada, raising safety fears and riling lawmakers
The U.S. government secretly shipped a large amount of deadly plutonium from a South Carolina site that produced the radioactive metal for nuclear bombs during the Cold War to Nevada, the Trump administration revealed on Wednesday. The Justice Department, on behalf of the Department of ...
National / Science & Health Jul 31, 2018
Japan to cut plutonium stockpile amid international concerns
The government has decided to reduce its plutonium stockpile, in line with its principle of possessing only the amount necessary for peaceful use.
Editorials Jul 7, 2018
Japan is under pressure to shrink its 47-ton stockpile of plutonium.
National Oct 4, 2017
Japan nuclear panel plans reduction in plutonium stockpile, but details remain unclear
The government has maintained a long-standing policy of reprocessing spent uranium fuel and reusing the extracted plutonium and uranium as reactor fuel.
National Aug 1, 2017
Amount of plutonium held by Japan falls slightly with reactor restarts
Japan's stockpile of plutonium kept inside and outside the country fell slightly at the end of 2016 from a year earlier with the restart of nuclear reactors using plutonium-uranium mixed oxide fuel, the Cabinet Office said Tuesday. The decrease of around 1 ton to about ...
National Jun 19, 2017
Plutonium found in urine of five workers exposed to radiation
A small amount of plutonium and americium was found in the urine of five workers exposed to radiation in an accident earlier this month at a nuclear research facility in Ibaraki Prefecture.
National / History Jun 9, 2017
Declassified papers reveal U.S. held debate on Japan's nuclear ambitions in 1970s
by Eric Johnston
Japan's push to establish a nuclear fuel recycling program and use the plutonium created in the process was the center of an intense debate in the U.S. government four decades ago, pitting those who wanted smooth relations with Tokyo against those who worried the ...
National Jun 8, 2017
The cause of the plutonium inhalation accident in Ibaraki Prefecture might involve factors ranging from a helium buildup to procedural mistakes in checking containers.
National Jun 7, 2017
Four workers exposed to radioactive materials at Ibaraki nuclear facility
Four workers suffered internal radiation exposure due to inhalation of a large amount of plutonium during an inspection at a nuclear research facility in Ibaraki Prefecture on Tuesday, the operator of the facility said Wednesday. In the wake of what appears to be an unprecedented ...