Nuked

An FP special roundtable on Japan’s post-tsunami future.

JUNE 29, 2011

 

On March 11, 2011, Japan's northern coast was shaken by the biggest earthquake ever to strike the island in recorded history. With a gigantic tsunami and the nuclear meltdown that followed, 3/11 was the worst disaster to hit the developed world for a hundred years. Confronted with tough questions about its dependence on nuclear power, about the competence of its leaders both in the private and public sectors, about the economy's ability to rebound from a shock, the country has been plunged into crisis. After centuries of earthquakes, tsunamis, war, and a long list of other disasters, natural and unnatural, the Japanese people are accustomed to building back stronger -- but how do they recover from such a devastating blow, and what will that new future look like?

Tsunami: Japan's Post-Fukushima Future
A special FP ebook for charity

FP's latest ebook, Tsunami: Japan's Post-Fukushima Future, the in-depth look at the quake's aftermath, assembles an exclusive collection of the top writers and scholars working in Japan today to answer these questions. In the excerpts published here, a group of Japan-watchers debate the country's nuclear future: Will TEPCO, which supplies 29 percent of all of Japan's electricity, be able to rebuild or will its collapse drag down the Japanese economy? What was the role of Japan's famous "nuclear village" -- the close-knit, revolving-door community of nuclear-industry officials, regulators, and lobbyists who've managed to keep Japan pro-nuclear even after the shocks of Hiroshima and Nagasaki -- in allowing the Fukushima disaster to happen? And does it make sense to continue building nuclear power plants in a country so susceptible to natural disaster, or would a new smart grid based on renewable energy sources be a better solution for Japan's north, as Andrew DeWit and Masaru Keneko argue?

For a longer look, plus articles on many other angles of Japan's disaster, check out the ebook -- with proceeds going to the Japan Society's tsunami relief efforts.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

 

US

11:57 PM ET

June 30, 2011

Astro Boy's Reactor

Hi Andrew,

I never imagine TETSUWAN ATOM with Nuclear until you pointed out the fact at this article. It is very interested. Osamu Tezuka must believe technology and future.

However, I would like to put two comments:

1. ATOM's reactor in his chest is Fusion reactor using deuterium as fuel. This is not as same as CANDU reactor from the following points:
-Fusion reactor creates power by nuclear fusion, CANDU reactor creates one by nuclear fission.
-Fusion reactor use deuterium as fuel, CANDU reactor use natural uranium as fuel.

2. CANDU reactor does not use deuterium (D2 / Heavy Hydrogen). CANDU use deuterium oxide (D2O / Heavy Water) as coolant and moderator. Deuterium is not deuterium oxide as same as hydrogen (H2) is not water (H2O).

You did not write the detail, so you might know this, but the article was not so detail, so that I am afraid many reader might misunderstand CANDU is using deuterium as same as ATOM.

In addition, I think the reason Japan did not export CANDU reactor, but BWR and PWR, it is difficult for Japan to obtain Natural Uranium which is fuel of CANDU. CANDU is very good reactor, but it is good one for the countries which can get Natural Uranium easily like CANADA. (and for the countries which want plutonium CANDU can provide easily).

I am looking forward reading your next article.

Thank you .
US

 

LALOPARSAD

6:18 AM ET

July 25, 2011

ATOM's reactor in his chest

ATOM's reactor in his chest is Fusion reactor using deuterium as fuel. This is not as same as CANDU reactor waystoearnmoneyonline.Fusion reactor creates power by nuclear fusion, CANDU reactor creates one by nuclear fission.Fusion reactor use deuterium as fuel, CANDU reactor use natural uranium as fuel.

 

SELENACA806

1:19 PM ET

July 29, 2011

Nuked

An FP special roundtable on Japans post-tsunami future. ATOM's reactor in his chest is Fusion reactor using deuterium as fuel. This is not as same as CANDU reactor waystoearnmoneyonline.Fusion reactor creates power by nuclear fusion, CANDU reactor creates one by nuclear fission.Fusion reactor use deuterium as fuel, CANDU reactor use natural uranium as fuel. inventory Hi Andrew, I never imagine TETSUWAN ATOM with Nuclear until you pointed out the fact at this article. It is very interested. Osamu Tezuka must believe technology and future. However, I would like to put two comments: 1. ATOM's reactor in his chest is Fusion reactor using deuterium as fuel. This is not as same as CANDU reactor from the following points: -Fusion reactor creates power by nuclear fusi.