Drone intended "express opposition to nuclear power"

May 16, 2015

Antinuclear activist' says drone stunt was simply to attract attention

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201505160032

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

A self-professed antinuclear activist indicted May 15 for landing a drone on the roof of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's office in Tokyo last month told investigators his action was intended to draw attention, but not on the scale of a terrorist attack.

"I thought I could gain public attention if I used a drone," Yasuo Yamamoto is said to have told investigators. "I chose a method that was more apparent than a demonstration, but not as shocking as a terrorist attack."

Yamamoto, who is 40 and unemployed, added: "Drones are a hot topic and anything done with them leaves an impact. I thought of using it after I saw videos of pizza deliveries made using similar devices."

Yamamoto, from Obama, Fukui Prefecture, was charged by Tokyo prosecutors with forcible obstruction of business at the prime minister’s office in Chiyoda Ward by landing the drone on its roof April 9.

It is not illegal under the Aviation Law to operate a drone at an altitude of under 250 meters, although that is set to change.

According to Tokyo prosecutors, Yamamoto operated the drone, which was carrying soil containing radioactive materials and a flare, from a parking lot in the capital's Minato Ward around 3:40 a.m.

It landed on the roof of the prime minister's office, but was not discovered until April 22. Prosecutors determined that Yamamoto's actions had interfered with the duties of staff members at the office.

Yamamoto said, "I flew the drone to express my opposition to nuclear power," when he turned himself in to police in Obama on April 24. But when he was later asked how he became opposed to nuclear power, he replied, "I don't remember," according to sources.

Yamamoto left his company last July and visited Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s Sendai nuclear power plant in Satsuma-Sendai, Kagoshima Prefecture, he told investigators.

"I began taking stock of my life after I visited nuclear power plants across the country. I was also growing weary of my age," he said.