While nuclear power advocates within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are none too happy about their former leader Junichiro Koizumi repeatedly calling for abolishing all nuclear plants, opposition politicians are wooing his cooperation.

They are hoping to enlist the support of the popular former prime minister in hopes of gathering anti-nuclear forces to counterattack the pro-nuclear Abe administration.

On Oct. 29, Koizumi met with Social Democratic Party leader Tadatomo Yoshida and Seiji Mataichi, the opposition party’s secretary-general, at his office in Tokyo.

“I was initially on the side of advancing nuclear power generation,” Yoshida quoted Koizumi as saying during the 45-minute meeting. “But after the nuclear accident (in Fukushima Prefecture in 2011), I had second thoughts. I have realized that it is irresponsible to continue using nuclear reactors.

“Japanese citizens hope that money being wasted for nuclear power projects, such as the disposal of spent nuclear fuel, will be spent on developing new energy sources.”

The 71-year-old retired politician, who served as prime minister between 2001 and 2006, also called on the government to make a bold shift in energy policy.

“The government should make a political decision to reduce the number of nuclear plants to zero,” Koizumi was quoted as saying.

Yoshida was elected in October as chief of the SDP, known as a staunch opponent to nuclear power. During the meeting, he asked for Koizumi's cooperation with his party, with the hope of countering the Abe administration, which has been enjoying high public approval ratings since the LDP returned to power in December.

But Koizumi only said: “Each party should make its own efforts for abolishing nuclear plants. I am convinced that by changing public opinion, we will surely be able to lead the government to make a political decision to move away from nuclear power.”

He dismissed talk that he will form a new party on a nuclear-free platform, saying, “I'm unhappy about such speculation,” according to Yoshida.

Koizumi has called for no nuclear plants in speeches and closed sessions. He is scheduled to hold a news conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 12 under the title, "The path Japan should take."

For opposition parties, Koizumi’s break from the LDP's official line appears to offer an opportunity for a counterattack by assembling anti-nuclear forces.

Your Party head Yoshimi Watanabe, who talked with Koizumi for four hours about nuclear energy policy in late September, expects to follow up on the issue.

“I was treated (by Koizumi) to a meal the previous time, so I hope to treat him the next time,” Watanabe said Oct. 28.

Other opposition politicians are also trying to cash in on Koizumi's popularity.

“There is a stance we share with him,” Japanese Communist Party chairman Kazuo Shii said Oct. 17.

Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the People's Life Party, said Oct. 28, “If (Koizumi) plans to start a full-fledged political movement (on a nuclear-free policy), I may talk with him someday.”

Meanwhile, LDP executives have taken a critical stance toward Koizumi’s remarks.

“Koizumi is probably playing a hunch, but I think it is irresponsible to promise zero nuclear power plants at this stage,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on a TV program broadcast Oct. 24.

LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba declared, “Our party's policy will not change.”

Lower House member Shinjiro Koizumi, Koizumi’s second son, has shown a relatively negative stance toward nuclear energy.

Still, Shinjiro, who serves as parliamentary secretary in charge of reconstruction from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, remained noncommittal about his father's no-nuclear campaign when he talked with reporters on Oct. 29.

“Japan is a country where you can express your opinions freely," he said. "In modern-day Japan, even elderly people are full of energy."

----------------------

This news was published on October 30, 2013.

Source: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201310300055