Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Hashima Island: Japan's Ghost Island (former coal mine)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Someone sent me some lyrics to a song about an interesting island in Japan. At first, I dismissed it as not so interesting, but after about 10 minutes of snooping around, I thought it was pretty damn amazing!
Hashima Island; commonly called Gunkanjima (軍艦島; meaning "Battleship Island") is one among 505 uninhabited islands in the Nagasaki Prefecture about 15 kilometers from Nagasaki itself. The island was populated from 1887 to 1974 as a coal mining facility. The island's most notable features are the abandoned concrete buildings and the sea wall surrounding it. It has been administered as part of Nagasaki, Nagasaki since 2005.
"Battleship Island" is an English translation of the Japanese nickname for Hashima Island, Gunkanjima (gunkan meaning "battleship", jima being the rendaku form of shima, meaning "island"). The island's nickname came from its apparent resemblance to the Japanese battleship Tosa due to its high seawalls. It also is known as the Ghost Island. It is known for its coal mines and their operation during the industrialization of Japan. Mitsubishi bought the island in 1890 and began the project, the aim of which was retrieving coal from the bottom of the sea. They built Japan's first large concrete building, a block of apartments in 1916 to accommodate their burgeoning ranks of workers (many of whom were forcibly recruited labourers from other parts of Asia), and to protect against typhoon destruction. Wikipedia...
In 1959, its population density was 835 people per hectare (83,500 people/km2) for the whole island, or 1,391 per hectare (139,100 people/km2) for the residential district, the highest population density ever recorded worldwide. As petroleum replaced coal in Japan in the 1960s, coal mines began shutting down all over the country, and Hashima's mines were no exception. Mitsubishi officially announced the closing of the mine in 1974, and today it is empty and bare, which is why it's called the Ghost Island. Travel to Hashima was re-opened on April 22, 2009 after more than 20 years of closure.
Visiting the Island Today!
The island is increasingly gaining international attention not only as one of the modern international heritages in the region, but also as the housing complex remnants in the years from Taisho Era to Showa Era. Moreover, the island has become the frequent subject of a discussion among enthusiasts for ruins.
Since the abandoned island has not been maintained, several buildings have already collapsed. Other existing buildings are subject to breakage. In this regard, however, certain collapsed exterior walls have been restored with concrete. While the island was owned by Mitsubishi Material up until 2002, it was voluntarily transferred to Takashima town. Currently, Nagasaki City possesses the island. A small portion of the island was re-opened for tourism on April 22nd, 2009. A full reopening of the island would require an enormous amount of money to make the premises safe, due to the aging of the buildings.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Japan opposition backs Obama's nuclear-free plan
A girl prepares to release a paper lantern on the Motoyasu river in remembrance of atomic bomb victims on the 64th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima August 6, 2009. Japan said it would stand by a self-imposed ban on nuclear weapons as it commemorated the anniversary on Thursday of the world's first atomic attack on the western city of Hiroshima. Seen in the background is the gutted A-bomb dome.
Comment: Lets pray the present gov't is truthful about a Nuclear Free World!
HIROSHIMA, Japan: Japan's main opposition Democratic Party, which has a good shot at winning power in a general election this month, said on Thursday it backed US President Barack Obama's call to rid the world of nuclear arms.
In the western city of Hiroshima to remember the victims of the world's first atomic attack in 1945, party leader Yukio Hatoyama also said Japan should appeal to world leaders to abandon nuclear weapons.
Prime Minister Taro Aso, his Liberal Democratic Party's poll ratings sagging ahead of the Aug 30 election, reaffirmed Tokyo's self-imposed ban on nuclear weapons.
Tensions in the region were heightened in May when its neighbor the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a nuclear test.
"Realising a nuclear-free world as called for by US President Obama is exactly the moral mission of our country as the only atomic-bombed state," Hatoyama, quoted by Kyodo news agency, told a ceremony marking the 1945 attack.
He was backed by the mayor of Hiroshima, where more than 260,000 people died from the bomb, either from the blast or later from the effects of the nuclear explosion.
"We can abolish nuclear weapons. Yes, we can," Tadatoshi Akiba said in a speech at a memorial ceremony, in an echo of Obama's election catch phrase.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
Japan often refers to its position as the only country to suffer nuclear attacks when calling for the abolition of atomic weapons. The United States dropped a second atomic bomb on the southern city of Nagasaki days after the attack on Hiroshima.
While many in Japan oppose nuclear arms, Tokyo benefits from the shelter of a "nuclear umbrella" extended by its biggest ally, Washington.
Aso said Japan stood by its fundamental non-nuclear principles and would "take the lead within the international community to abolish nuclear weapons and bring about lasting peace".
But, speaking to reporters after attending the main commemorations, he said the nuclear umbrella was vital as it was unlikely all nuclear powers would give up nuclear arms at once.
"It's hard to say that a country will abandon (nuclear weapons) right away when another does," he said.
A former government official said in recent interviews that Tokyo had secretly agreed with Washington in 1960 that Japan would allow stopovers by US military aircraft or vessels carrying nuclear weapons. Japan denies having made such a deal.
Later on Thursday, a former air force chief of staff gave a speech in Hiroshima calling on Japan to protect itself with nuclear weapons.
"As the only country to have experienced nuclear bombs, we should go nuclear to make sure we don't suffer a third time," Kyodo news agency quoted Toshio Tamogami as telling an audience at an event the city's mayor had asked him to postpone to a less sensitive date.
More than 1,000 people gathered for a protest in central Hiroshima against nuclear weapons, many of them emphasising their opposition to Tamogami's views.
Tamogami was fired as head of Japan's air force last year after he wrote an essay arguing Japan had not been an aggressor in World War Two.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-08/06/content_8537723.htm
HIROSHIMA, Japan: Japan's main opposition Democratic Party, which has a good shot at winning power in a general election this month, said on Thursday it backed US President Barack Obama's call to rid the world of nuclear arms.
In the western city of Hiroshima to remember the victims of the world's first atomic attack in 1945, party leader Yukio Hatoyama also said Japan should appeal to world leaders to abandon nuclear weapons.
Prime Minister Taro Aso, his Liberal Democratic Party's poll ratings sagging ahead of the Aug 30 election, reaffirmed Tokyo's self-imposed ban on nuclear weapons.
Tensions in the region were heightened in May when its neighbor the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a nuclear test.
"Realising a nuclear-free world as called for by US President Obama is exactly the moral mission of our country as the only atomic-bombed state," Hatoyama, quoted by Kyodo news agency, told a ceremony marking the 1945 attack.
He was backed by the mayor of Hiroshima, where more than 260,000 people died from the bomb, either from the blast or later from the effects of the nuclear explosion.
"We can abolish nuclear weapons. Yes, we can," Tadatoshi Akiba said in a speech at a memorial ceremony, in an echo of Obama's election catch phrase.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
Japan often refers to its position as the only country to suffer nuclear attacks when calling for the abolition of atomic weapons. The United States dropped a second atomic bomb on the southern city of Nagasaki days after the attack on Hiroshima.
While many in Japan oppose nuclear arms, Tokyo benefits from the shelter of a "nuclear umbrella" extended by its biggest ally, Washington.
Aso said Japan stood by its fundamental non-nuclear principles and would "take the lead within the international community to abolish nuclear weapons and bring about lasting peace".
But, speaking to reporters after attending the main commemorations, he said the nuclear umbrella was vital as it was unlikely all nuclear powers would give up nuclear arms at once.
"It's hard to say that a country will abandon (nuclear weapons) right away when another does," he said.
A former government official said in recent interviews that Tokyo had secretly agreed with Washington in 1960 that Japan would allow stopovers by US military aircraft or vessels carrying nuclear weapons. Japan denies having made such a deal.
Later on Thursday, a former air force chief of staff gave a speech in Hiroshima calling on Japan to protect itself with nuclear weapons.
"As the only country to have experienced nuclear bombs, we should go nuclear to make sure we don't suffer a third time," Kyodo news agency quoted Toshio Tamogami as telling an audience at an event the city's mayor had asked him to postpone to a less sensitive date.
More than 1,000 people gathered for a protest in central Hiroshima against nuclear weapons, many of them emphasising their opposition to Tamogami's views.
Tamogami was fired as head of Japan's air force last year after he wrote an essay arguing Japan had not been an aggressor in World War Two.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-08/06/content_8537723.htm
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Kepco finalizes acquisition of Denison stake
Comment: Denison Mines letting another foreign investor buy their stock! According to the local uranium company that their uranium will stay in America for their Nuke Plants...just another fairy tale from the local yokel uranium group( Canada) in Virginia!! We will not know where the uranium will go!
22 June 2009
Denison Mines and Korea Electric Power Corp (Kepco) have signed definitive agreements relating to the South Korean utility acquiring a 17% stake in the Canada-based uranium mining company, as well as an offtake agreement.
In April, the companies entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which Kepco would purchase one-fifth of Denison's U3O8 production and acquire a 19.9% stake in Denison for C$75.4 million ($62.2 million).
Under the newly-signed definitive agreements, Kepco will purchase 58 million common shares of Denison at an issue price of C$1.30 ($1.14) per share for proceeds of C$75.4 million ($65.9 million). As a result, Kepco would own some 17% of Denison's issued capital. The will also have the right to appoint two directors to Denison's board of directors.
In addition, Denison's chairman, Lukas Lundin, will also acquire 15 million common shares for an additional C$19.5 million ($17.1 million).
Denison and Kepco have also entered into a long-term offtake agreement which provides for the delivery to Kepco of 20% of Denison's annual U3O8 production, but not less than 350,000 pounds U3O8 (160 tonnes U3O8) annually, from 2010 to 2015. Denison has also granted Kepco an option, exercisable within 30 days from the closing of the equity financing, to purchase an additional 400,000 pounds U3O8 (180 tonnes U3O8) annually from 2011 to 2015. Under the agreement, the purchase price of the uranium that Kepco buys from Denison will be based on "industry standard terms."
The offtake agreement also provides that Kepco will purchase 20% of Denison's uranium production after 2015, subject to agreement on pricing and Kepco maintaining a 10% minimum shareholding in Denison.
Denison mines uranium in Saskatchewan, Canada, and in southwest USA. It also has ownership interests in two of the four conventional uranium mills currently operating in North America. In addition, the company is exploring properties in Mongolia and Zambia.
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-Kepco_finalizes_acquisition_of_stake_in_Denison-2206094.html
22 June 2009
Denison Mines and Korea Electric Power Corp (Kepco) have signed definitive agreements relating to the South Korean utility acquiring a 17% stake in the Canada-based uranium mining company, as well as an offtake agreement.
In April, the companies entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which Kepco would purchase one-fifth of Denison's U3O8 production and acquire a 19.9% stake in Denison for C$75.4 million ($62.2 million).
Under the newly-signed definitive agreements, Kepco will purchase 58 million common shares of Denison at an issue price of C$1.30 ($1.14) per share for proceeds of C$75.4 million ($65.9 million). As a result, Kepco would own some 17% of Denison's issued capital. The will also have the right to appoint two directors to Denison's board of directors.
In addition, Denison's chairman, Lukas Lundin, will also acquire 15 million common shares for an additional C$19.5 million ($17.1 million).
Denison and Kepco have also entered into a long-term offtake agreement which provides for the delivery to Kepco of 20% of Denison's annual U3O8 production, but not less than 350,000 pounds U3O8 (160 tonnes U3O8) annually, from 2010 to 2015. Denison has also granted Kepco an option, exercisable within 30 days from the closing of the equity financing, to purchase an additional 400,000 pounds U3O8 (180 tonnes U3O8) annually from 2011 to 2015. Under the agreement, the purchase price of the uranium that Kepco buys from Denison will be based on "industry standard terms."
The offtake agreement also provides that Kepco will purchase 20% of Denison's uranium production after 2015, subject to agreement on pricing and Kepco maintaining a 10% minimum shareholding in Denison.
Denison mines uranium in Saskatchewan, Canada, and in southwest USA. It also has ownership interests in two of the four conventional uranium mills currently operating in North America. In addition, the company is exploring properties in Mongolia and Zambia.
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-Kepco_finalizes_acquisition_of_stake_in_Denison-2206094.html
Saturday, May 23, 2009
MOX fuel arrives amid strong protest
AFP – Anti-nuclear protesters demonstrate against a MOX fuel shipment carried by the Pacific Heron (background) …Two cargo ships carrying recycled nuclear fuel arrived May 18 in Japan from France for the planned introduction of plutonium-thermal power generation in the fall, power company officials said.
One of the two armed ships entered a port near Chubu Electric Power Co.'s Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, the first stop for the delivery of plutonium and uranium mixed oxide, or MOX, fuel.
The ships will also deliver the fuel, a combination of uranium and plutonium extracted from spent nuclear fuel, to Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture and Shikoku Electric Power Co.'s Ikata plant in Ehime Prefecture.
The fuel was manufactured in France on an order placed by the three utilities and will be used in conventional uranium-burning light-water reactors.
Anti-nuclear groups staged demonstrations against the pluthermal power generation plan.
The Japan Times Weekly: May 23, 2009
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/weekly/news/nn2009/nn20090523a1.htm
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Nuclear energy deal not welcomed by all
By ERIC JOHNSTON
Staff writer
OSAKA — The nuclear energy cooperation agreement signed Tuesday by Japan and Russia is expected to be a great boon to firms like Toshiba that are seeking new international markets for their atomic power technology, as well as ensuring Japan a steady supply of enriched uranium for its own electricity plants.
But the deal also raises international concerns about environmental issues related to the mining of uranium, and worldwide questions about the further spread of nuclear technology and transport safety of re-enriched uranium to Japan.
Tuesday's agreement marked the end of a two-year negotiating process between Tokyo and Moscow to cooperate on peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The deal specifically means Russia will provide enriched uranium to Japan's nuclear plants at a lower cost than is currently possible with contracts in other European countries. Meanwhile, Japanese firms that are world leaders in advanced nuclear technologies will be able to expand their presence in Russia and help the country modernize its atomic facilities and nuclear energy market.
"Russia has great potential in terms of the development of energy resources and infrastructure-related projects, and we hope that Japan-Russia economic relations will progress, centered on this sector," Fujio Mitarai, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), told reporters Monday.
As Prime Minister Taro Aso and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin were meeting Tuesday, Toshiba Corp., which has pursued nuclear cooperation with Russia these past few years, announced it signed a memorandum of understanding with Technabexport, which is a part of Atemoenergoprom, the organization that supervises the Russian civilian nuclear power generation business.
"Cooperation between the two parties will be strictly limited to the peaceful use of nuclear power and will be undertaken within the current and future framework of cooperation between the two countries' governments, as well as the international framework for the peaceful use of nuclear power," Toshiba said.
The Japan-Russia nuclear agreement is expected to provide up to $100 million worth of Russian low enriched uranium for Japan's 53 reactors and is seen as an important step toward the government's eventual goal of having atomic power provide at least 40 percent of the nation's electricity by 2017, up from about 30 percent at present.
But the deal was immediately questioned by antinuclear groups in Japan and Russia that warned that despite the promises of both Tokyo and Moscow to carry out the deal under internationally approved nonproliferation safeguards, there are huge risks.
"Japan cannot be confident that Japanese nuclear material will not be diverted to Iran, or to other countries suspected of developing nuclear weapons. The inadequacy of International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards in nuclear weapons states and Russia's supply of fuel for Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant are grounds for serious concerns," Philip White of the Tokyo-based Citizens' Nuclear Information Center and Aileen Mioko Smith of Kyoto-based Green Action said in a joint statement.
Sergei Kirienko, head of Rosatom, Russia's nuclear regulatory body, told reporters Tuesday in Tokyo that the agreement would adhere to a variety of multilateral and bilateral nonproliferation principles. But he did not specifically say the IAEA would be allowed in to inspect current uranium re-enrichment facilities, only that Russia plans to eventually construct an international uranium center that would be certified by the IAEA.
"No Russian nuclear facility related to weapons production is under 100 percent IAEA control and all facilities dealing with uranium enrichment are classified as military facilities. This means that even if the IAEA does get access to such facilities, they will see only the parts of them that are declared for civil use," said Moscow-based antinuclear activist Vladimir Slivyak in an e-mail.
"When you cannot walk through the whole nuclear facility, what kind of control are we really talking about?"
The other issue is environmental. It's possible that under the new deal, spent uranium fuel from Japanese nuclear plants that is to be re-enriched will end up at the Angasrk uranium enrichment plant near Lake Baikal, which is a World Heritage Site nearly 10,000 km from St. Petersburg, the only Russian port that has facilities to import and export nuclear materials.
This means a long train trip from Angasrk across Siberia and the Ural Mountains before the material is put on a ship and sent to Japan, raising concerns about accidents, spills and terrorist attacks. There is some talk between Japan and Russia about building a route to Vladivostok, but who would pay for a rail and port system that could transport nuclear material is an open question.
Tenex, Russia's nuclear materials exporter, and Toshiba are expected to begin discussions soon on the possible creation of a uranium storage center in Japan that they claim would prevent accidents and the threat of terrorist attacks.
But the fact there are over 100,000 tons of radioactive waste stored in Angarsk, much of it sitting outdoors in old containers, may be influencing the discussions. It is also unclear where in Japan such a storage facility might be located, given the expected public opposition.
Related link NTV Etorofu trip sparks visa row
The Japan Times: Thursday, May 14, 2009
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/rss/nn20090514a3.html
Staff writer
OSAKA — The nuclear energy cooperation agreement signed Tuesday by Japan and Russia is expected to be a great boon to firms like Toshiba that are seeking new international markets for their atomic power technology, as well as ensuring Japan a steady supply of enriched uranium for its own electricity plants.
But the deal also raises international concerns about environmental issues related to the mining of uranium, and worldwide questions about the further spread of nuclear technology and transport safety of re-enriched uranium to Japan.
Tuesday's agreement marked the end of a two-year negotiating process between Tokyo and Moscow to cooperate on peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The deal specifically means Russia will provide enriched uranium to Japan's nuclear plants at a lower cost than is currently possible with contracts in other European countries. Meanwhile, Japanese firms that are world leaders in advanced nuclear technologies will be able to expand their presence in Russia and help the country modernize its atomic facilities and nuclear energy market.
"Russia has great potential in terms of the development of energy resources and infrastructure-related projects, and we hope that Japan-Russia economic relations will progress, centered on this sector," Fujio Mitarai, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), told reporters Monday.
As Prime Minister Taro Aso and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin were meeting Tuesday, Toshiba Corp., which has pursued nuclear cooperation with Russia these past few years, announced it signed a memorandum of understanding with Technabexport, which is a part of Atemoenergoprom, the organization that supervises the Russian civilian nuclear power generation business.
"Cooperation between the two parties will be strictly limited to the peaceful use of nuclear power and will be undertaken within the current and future framework of cooperation between the two countries' governments, as well as the international framework for the peaceful use of nuclear power," Toshiba said.
The Japan-Russia nuclear agreement is expected to provide up to $100 million worth of Russian low enriched uranium for Japan's 53 reactors and is seen as an important step toward the government's eventual goal of having atomic power provide at least 40 percent of the nation's electricity by 2017, up from about 30 percent at present.
But the deal was immediately questioned by antinuclear groups in Japan and Russia that warned that despite the promises of both Tokyo and Moscow to carry out the deal under internationally approved nonproliferation safeguards, there are huge risks.
"Japan cannot be confident that Japanese nuclear material will not be diverted to Iran, or to other countries suspected of developing nuclear weapons. The inadequacy of International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards in nuclear weapons states and Russia's supply of fuel for Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant are grounds for serious concerns," Philip White of the Tokyo-based Citizens' Nuclear Information Center and Aileen Mioko Smith of Kyoto-based Green Action said in a joint statement.
Sergei Kirienko, head of Rosatom, Russia's nuclear regulatory body, told reporters Tuesday in Tokyo that the agreement would adhere to a variety of multilateral and bilateral nonproliferation principles. But he did not specifically say the IAEA would be allowed in to inspect current uranium re-enrichment facilities, only that Russia plans to eventually construct an international uranium center that would be certified by the IAEA.
"No Russian nuclear facility related to weapons production is under 100 percent IAEA control and all facilities dealing with uranium enrichment are classified as military facilities. This means that even if the IAEA does get access to such facilities, they will see only the parts of them that are declared for civil use," said Moscow-based antinuclear activist Vladimir Slivyak in an e-mail.
"When you cannot walk through the whole nuclear facility, what kind of control are we really talking about?"
The other issue is environmental. It's possible that under the new deal, spent uranium fuel from Japanese nuclear plants that is to be re-enriched will end up at the Angasrk uranium enrichment plant near Lake Baikal, which is a World Heritage Site nearly 10,000 km from St. Petersburg, the only Russian port that has facilities to import and export nuclear materials.
This means a long train trip from Angasrk across Siberia and the Ural Mountains before the material is put on a ship and sent to Japan, raising concerns about accidents, spills and terrorist attacks. There is some talk between Japan and Russia about building a route to Vladivostok, but who would pay for a rail and port system that could transport nuclear material is an open question.
Tenex, Russia's nuclear materials exporter, and Toshiba are expected to begin discussions soon on the possible creation of a uranium storage center in Japan that they claim would prevent accidents and the threat of terrorist attacks.
But the fact there are over 100,000 tons of radioactive waste stored in Angarsk, much of it sitting outdoors in old containers, may be influencing the discussions. It is also unclear where in Japan such a storage facility might be located, given the expected public opposition.
Related link NTV Etorofu trip sparks visa row
The Japan Times: Thursday, May 14, 2009
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/rss/nn20090514a3.html
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