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Nuclear accident: Japanese victims seek justice

Scars linger from nuclear accident
The Japan Times , Sept. 29, 2009 10 years later, couple still fights in court while village grapples with how to move forwardTOKAIMURA, Ibaraki Pref. (Kyodo) On Sept. 30, 1999, Shoichi Oizumi and his wife Keiko couldn’t figure out why helicopters were hovering over their auto parts factory in the village of Tokaimura, Ibaraki Prefecture….……..

The critical state lasted around 20 hours until its termination at 6:14 a.m. the next day, eventually causing the deaths of two JCO employees and exposing hundreds of residents, including the Oizumis, to radiation.

The village was thrown into panic, with many residents forced to evacuate, traffic systems suspended and schools closed. The area was also hit by devastating rumors that its farm products were contaminated with radiation.

The village is a center for nuclear research and development, playing host to numerous facilities, including labs operated by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency……………

the Oizumis are still struggling as the only individuals involved in a legal battle over the accident, in which they argue that their health has deteriorated since they were exposed to radiation, seeking ¥57.6 million in damages from JCO and its parent company, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co.

The lawsuit has been rejected by the Mito District and Tokyo High courts, but the couple have appealed to the Supreme Court.

“We are determined to hand down what happened 10 years ago so people will never suffer damage from a nuclear accident as we have done,” Shoichi Oizumi said.

Scars linger from nuclear accident | The Japan Times Online

September 29, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, health | antinuclear, nuclear, radiation, radioactive, uranium