Energy Policy in the Post-3.11 World

The disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station has had an enormous impact on Japan’s overall energy policy, which had been oriented toward increasing dependence on nuclear energy. These articles examine the energy-related issues Japan faces in the wake of the disaster, and consider what future direction the nation’s energy policy should take.

Long-Term Electricity Demand and Energy Integration in JapanOgimoto Kazuhiko

Japan now confronts the question of what position to take on nuclear power and how to meet its current and future energy needs. Ogimoto Kazuhiko—a professor at the University of Tokyo’s Collaborative Research Center for Energy Engineering—examines energy scenarios premised on whether nuclear power is phased out and calculates the likely costs and CO₂ emissions under each scenario.
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The “Shale Gas Revolution” and JapanMorikawa Tetsuo

The rise in production of gas from sedimentary shale in the United States has dramatically changed that country’s natural gas market and affected the European market as well. The impact has extended to Asia too, including Japan, where the March earthquake and subsequent nuclear plant disaster have led to increased demand for LNG.
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The Need for Nuclear PowerToichi Tsutomu

Securing a stable energy supply is vital to resource-poor Japan and may well determine its viability as a nation. In this article, Toichi Tsutomu argues that even in the midst of the anxiety and anger surrounding the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the government needs to calmly work out its future energy policy.
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(More); How to Safeguard Japan In the Years Ahead: National Security and the Japan-US Alliance Japan faces a security environment that is undergoing major changes due to such factors as the emergence of China and the recent leadership change in North Korea. This raises the question of how Japan can cope with the growing diversity of risks. This series examines the tasks confronting Japan and explores its recent defense policies, with a focus on the Japan-US alliance.
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