Abe will make "comprehensive decision" on restart

 March 24, 2013

Abe to comprehensively decide on restart of reactors in Japan

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130324p2g00m0dm087000c.html

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday he will make a "comprehensive decision" on whether to restart reactors in Japan, noting the need for nuclear power.

"I will decide after assessing the safety" of resuming the reactors, Abe told reporters during a visit to Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, to check on the progress of reconstruction in areas affected by the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters.

At the same time, the prime minister said, "Reconstruction will be hard without an inexpensive and stable source of power," vowing to dispel "harmful rumors" stemming from the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

Abe visited farmers in Koriyama, who have been hit by public concern over the radioactive contamination of their products, and the largely deserted shopping district of the town of Namie, also in Fukushima.

Receiving a request from Namie Mayor Tamotsu Baba for the swift restoration of infrastructure, Abe assured him that rebuilding work will be accelerated.

The entire town is currently designated as a no-go zone, but the boundaries of the restricted area will be redrawn April 1, with residents to be allowed to temporarily visit some parts during the daytime.

Abe also visited the town of Tomioka.

As a prime minister, Abe visited disaster-hit Iwate and Miyagi prefectures in February. He last visited Fukushima in December, just after he took office.

March 24, 2013(Mainichi Japan)