Koide's retirement speech

March 2, 2015

Japan Political Pulse: Speaking out against nuclear power

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/perspectives/news/20150302p2a00m0na012000c.html

Hiroaki Koide, assistant professor at the Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute, is set to retire at the end of this month as he has reached the retirement age. A hero of anti-nuclear power advocates, 65-year-old Koide is regarded as a hateful agitator by the pro-nuclear energy camp. Koide labels himself as a loser, who failed to stem nuclear energy.

On Feb. 27, he delivered a speech commemorating his retirement at the research institute in Kumatori, Osaka Prefecture, where he has worked for 41 years. "I will retire in stages," he declared to the audience. "But I won't be backing down that easily," he later commented at a gathering, receiving a round of applause from attendants.

It's been almost four years since the onset of the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant disaster. Koide's continuing popularity must be a reflection of the reality that no one believes in the myth that "the situation is under control" at the crippled Fukushima plant.

Koide wrapped up his 90-minute speech by saying, "I had been foolish enough to dream of the peaceful use of nuclear energy. (Ever since I realized that mistake) I've been hoping to somehow stem it, but the organization promoting nuclear energy is too colossal, and I've kept losing. I sometimes wonder what on earth I've been living for."

He continued, "But I was able to continue to do what I wanted to. I wasn't ordered by anyone to do something, nor did I order anyone else, as I'm a teacher ranked at the bottom.

"I was fortunate enough to be connected with many of my comrades, and all of you as well. There are so many people who have kept a warm eye on me. I'm really grateful for that. That's about it," he remarked, to generous applause among the audience.

Born in the Tokyo downtown area of Ueno, Koide graduated from the prestigious Kaisei Senior High School and majored in nuclear engineering at Tohoku University's School of Engineering. After having a discussion with opponents to the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant in Miyagi Prefecture, Koide began to advocate a breakaway from nuclear power.

He has since devoted himself to research for discontinuing nuclear power as a rank-and-file instructor. Setting his eyes on a distant goal, he has never thought about fame and wealth. His obstinate way of living per se is one of the sources of his attraction.

"What are your plans after retirement?" asked one of the 140-strong audience at his Feb. 27 lecture. "I will be a hermit," answered Koide. "Weren't you supposed to fight until nuclear power is eliminated?" another attendant asked, evoking laughter and applause. The emcee -- Koide's fellow researcher Tetsuji Imanaka -- meddled in, saying, "Koide the hermit will keep running." Imanaka, 64, is also an assistant professor at the Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute.

One might assume the number of requests for Koide's lectures has been on the decline now that the movement for breaking away from nuclear power has been losing momentum. Well, that's not the case. Throughout the end of this coming August, he is booked on all Saturdays and Sundays every other week. While requests for his speeches come in an endless stream, Koide himself is hoping to gradually cut back on his speech activities.

After delivering so many lectures and publishing numerous books, did he make a fortune? I asked him such a delicate question. After pausing for four seconds, Koide said he did, smiling.

"But I've never offered to give lectures or publish books on my own initiative. I've never desired for anything to own. I've never thought of making money. Most of my clients are poor, so I don't think I've earned as much money as you might think," he said.

According to Koide, if the development of science and technology and the expansion of energy consumption continue further in the same manner as they did over the past 200 years, mankind will be annihilated -- even as early as 100 years from now. We will need to create a society that is viable with reduced energy consumption.

However, the public-private nuclear complex calls for preserving nuclear power on the premise of maintaining and expanding energy consumption. Because this nuclear body puts priority on an affluent appearance, the leakage of water contaminated with high levels of radiation from the Fukushima plant is played down. Are we going to just sit and watch the growth in consumption exterminate the human race? That's a question one doesn't even need to ask. (By Takao Yamada, Senior Expert Writer)

March 02, 2015(Mainichi Japan)