nuclear-news

“Descent from Heaven ” Japan’s nuclear top men in lucrative jobs

2 key industry ministry bureaucrats landed lucrative jobs after
retirement, Asahi Shimbun January 21, 2013 By ATSUSHI KOMORI/ Senior
Staff Writer

Two industry ministry officials who played a central role in Japan’s
nuclear policy at the time of the Fukushima disaster went on to land
senior positions at major financial institutions after they retired
from public life.

The practice of retired bureaucrats ending up in jobs at organizations
or companies that were often once under their jurisdiction is called
“amakudari,” which translates as “descent from heaven,” and has come
under severe criticism due to fears it fosters collusion between
bureaucrats and private companies.

Kazuo Matsunaga, 60, was formerly vice minister of the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry, and Tetsuhiro Hosono, 60, served as
director-general of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy.

They held these key posts during the reactor meltdowns at the
Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant triggered by the March 11, 2011,
Great East Japan Earthquake, which spawned towering tsunami that
devastated coastlines of northeastern Japan.

Their re-employment will likely ignite controversy, because even now,
more than 150,000 people affected by the disaster have not been able
to return to their homes because of high radiation levels and other
reason…. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201301210093

January 25, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties