LESSONS NOT YET LEARNT: The Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Japan’s Bureaucracy - Couverture souple

Tsumura, Teruhiko

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0956728464 ISBN 13 : 9780956728463

Editeur : London Research International, 2026

Synopsis

The Fukushima nuclear accident was a man-made disaster caused by regulatory capture: this was the conclusion of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission, a third-party organisation organised by the National Diet of Japan. Regulatory capture is an economic term that describes a situation in which regulators are influenced by the regulated. The former act in the interests of the latter, rather than in the public interest. Despite the fact that regulatory capture was found to be the fundamental cause of the accident, no specific investigation into it has been conducted.

The Commission's final report loosely cited factors behind regulatory capture, such as the close ties between politics, bureaucracy, and business, and the "single-track elite". These individuals rise through the ranks based on seniority and years of employment, and believe that following precedent and protecting the interests of their organisations are important missions. Such broad factors suggest that regulatory capture is not limited to nuclear regulation, but can also occur elsewhere in regulatory administration. In other words, disasters similar to the Fukushima nuclear accident could happen again, albeit on a different scale.

The author, using Japan's regulation of its electricity industry as an example, comprehensively analyses its inherent problems, demonstrating not only that the government and bureaucracy have not learnt the lessons of the Fukushima nuclear accident, but also that Japan's current regulatory system—lacking independence, expertise, and governance—is not equipped to consistently formulate and implement regulations that would be effective tools for supporting sustainable social and economic growth. Furthermore, he warns that chronic delays in regulatory change and ineffective regulations are hindering the Japanese economy.

The author concludes by recommending specific regulatory actions for Japan's electricity industry, which has historically been characterised by consistently high electricity prices, and reformative actions for effective regulatory administration.

This book is intended for a wide audience with an interest in politics and economics. The differences between British and Japanese regulatory administration are frequently noted, which will be particularly useful for researchers in the fields of politics, administration, policy, and regulation.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: London Research International
• Date d'édition: 2026
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0956728464
• ISBN 13: 9780956728463
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 170
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Manufactured by Amazon on behalf of the author; https://www.amazon.fr/hz/contact-us; ; c/o Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy; Luxembourg; L-1855; Luxembourg