Updates from Japan - The Zenroren Diary

Within hours of the triple disaster hitting Japan, the Japanese National Confederation of Trade Unions’, Zenroren International Bureau’s Director, Keisuke Fuse has dedicatedly sent updates on the situation in Japan, Zenroren’s involvement in the relief work and his personal thoughts on the situation faced by Japan. Zenroren, in Japan represents 1.2 million workers. It comprises of 21 industrial federations and 47 prefectural federations out of 47 prefectures in Japan. Founded in November 1989 on the core principles of being independent from capital and political party, and with a vision to pursue united action based on common demand, they carry the legacy of Japan’s militant trade union movement. We take this opportunity to share some of their updates. You can reach Com. Fuse and Zenroren at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

21 June, 2011: […] At the end of May, the death toll had reached 15,355, and 8,281 people were still missing. More than 100,000 houses are totally collapsed and nearly 100,000 people have been displaced and are staying at schools or gymnasiums. […] The tsunami [went 10 km inland in some parts] and damaged an area of 507 square km. 6 municipalities experienced more than 70% of its houses flooded. Many local governments lost their capacity to function, as city halls and public facilities were also destroyed. Power generation plants and industrial complexes were damaged, with serious impacts on production. One oil refinery facility along Tokyo Bay was burnt down. It is terribly sad for us that several hundred Zenroren members and their family members were killed or missing and many more lost their home and properties.

The TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant lost the capacity to cool down its reactors and meltdowns took place in the reactors No 1, 2 and 3. The shield buildings of these reactors exploded on March 12, 14 and 15, and radioactive agents were spread into the atmosphere and sea. […] It is estimated that 630 thousand teraBecquerel radiations was emitted to the air from March 11 to April 12, and still, 154 teraBecquerel is being emitted a day. TEPCO dumped 10,000 tonnes of contaminated water into the sea, and there are additional unknown leakages from the plant. Nobody knows the exact amount of contaminated water that is reaching the ocean. To terminate the accident, workers are working at the site in an extremely difficult and highly contaminated environment. The government has increased the exposure limitation for workers from 100 to 250 mSv per year without any scientific review. No one is sure when the situation will be stabilized.

The government has announced that the index of nuclear accident fatality (INES standard) will be increased from 5 to 7, to reach the same level than the Chernobyl accident. Due to catastrophic Fukushima accident, 180,000 people living within 20 km from the plant as well as in other highly contaminated areas were forced to evacuate their homes by the government. This unprecedented human disaster still continues to be our imminent threat.


Anti Nuclear Rally, 7 May 2011 Source: Labournet Japan

Impact on the economy and workers: The economic activity of the affected administrations of Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima and Ibaraki represented 7.85% of Japan’s manufacturing industry in 2007. The principal sectors are electronic material, precision machine, general machines, and metal industry. Production and supply of parts is concentrated in the area. Also, 11.07% of Japan’s food production and 15.83% of Japan’s agricultural and fishery industry production takes place in the region. […] Due to the radiation leakages, shipments of more than 10 agricultural products were suspended. In addition, agriculture in Fukushima and in the surrounding areas is seriously hit by rumours. According to a prevailing research institute, 66 companies went into bankruptcy by the end of April. This is 3 times more than after the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. However, only 10 are located in the most devastated area, i.e. Tohoku, and many cases are in the eastern part of Japan [lesser affected by the disaster]. Also, 90% of bankruptcies were caused by “indirect impacts.” For instance, among the bankrupt companies, there are 8 hotels, 5 event and advertisement companies, and 4 restaurant chains, which were impacted by people’s restrained consumption and economic activity after the disaster. […] According to the government, 110,000 workers applied for unemployment benefits [since the disaster] in Tohoku itself. We fear that the employment situation will worsen in the coming months.


Farmers rally at TEPCO, 26 April 2011 Source: Labournet Japan

[…] The Japan Business Federation (JBF) has demanded the government to further deregulate labour protections in the name of the disaster. They demand more flexibility on working hours and overtimes, contract work, and the legalization of temporary work and deregulation of contract work in the construction industry. Since we experienced [the impacts of] such deregulation in 1995, after the Great Hanshin Earthquake, we are extremely worried and ready to organize campaigns against such moves.

Zenroren involvement: Zenroren set up a Crisis Response Headquarters for the Great East Japan Earthquake immediately after the quake on March 13 with other independent union federations, and organized relief fundraising, sending relief materials and volunteers to the areas. […] Since the disaster, Zenroren issued 2 proposals; one is the 1st policy proposals for recovery, and the other one is the urgent proposal for future nuclear power plant, submitted on 25 March.

The Proposal for recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake includes:
• To increase measures for securing a place to live and decent employment for the victims, including those of the Fukushima accident;
• A community recovery plan lead by the local people, in order to realize communities that are stronger against disaster;
• The immediate termination of radiation leakage and full compensation for radiation damages;
• A government budget secured from big companies and asset holders, as well as needless expenditures;
• Policies to secure stable and decent work and better social protection system to be at the centre of the recovery measures.

The Proposal on Future Nuclear Power Plants includes:
• To set out a policy within a time framework to halt and abolish all existing reactors through a progressive process to start immediately; […]
• To start the discussion for a strategic time bound shift away from nuclear power generation and towards renewable clean energy sources, such as sunlight, wind, biomass, and geothermal;
• To reach balanced decent work for all Japanese workers, as part of a fundamental change in Japanese society, economy and politics, including by eliminating excessively long working hours and regulating unnecessary night work. At the same time, we will strengthen our campaign for safety and decent employment and lives;
• To abrogate the collusion of power between companies and the government and establish independent, transparent and stronger monitoring bodies over the current nuclear power generation and the implementation of related policies; […]
• To halt trade of nuclear power generation technology and take initiatives at the international level to realize safe, secure and sustainable societies without nuclear power generation.

We believe that we successfully achieved the wide implementation of unemployment benefits, the exemption of social security premiums and the improvement of government measures for evacuees. We again greatly appreciate the very warm messages and financial aid from friends all over the world, which greatly encouraged us. Donation has been sent to the local government and our affiliated unions in Tohoku.

9 May, 2011: May 1st, there were more than 300 May Day rallies across Japan, and 21 thousand workers gathered in a rally in Tokyo. We had a representative from Miyagi, and many other speeches emphasized their campaign to strengthen the rehabilitation process and demanded that the government doesn’t sacrifice workers in the process. In Hokkaido (Japan’s second largest island and the northernmost prefecture), participants lined up as a shape of Japanese character meaning “bond” to express solidarity to victimized workers. Photos were taken by helicopter. […] May 3rd is the Japanese Constitution Day. We had many rallies and symposiums across Japan. We mentioned the Article 9, the Peace Clause, but also the Article 25, which requires the government to secure people’s well-being and welfare. Many media also related the Article 25 and the disaster. On May 6th, a Peace March started from Tokyo to Hiroshima. 700 people joined the march, and many of them are Zenroren members. This march will reach Hiroshima during the World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, in August. Many more such marches will be organized in Japan, including Tohoku. This will be a good opportunity to wage a campaign to review the nuclear energy policy in addition to the campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Before last week, one of the government’s advisors resigned in protest against the government’s decision to weaken nuclear safety standards on school playgrounds radiation levels and [to increase the acceptable limit from 1 to 20 millisieverts (mSv) per year]. He protested that it is too high for children, and his resignation created a controversy about this shift in a safety baseline and about the government’s attitude. Japan Federation of Bar Association issued a protest statement on the decision, and Prime Minister Kan was severely criticized. In Koriyama, Fukushima, the city [government] removed to surface soil of the school playground, but they cannot find any place where to dump the soil. It was piled in the playground itself! This is an issue not only in Fukushima, but also in the eastern part of Japan.

Last Friday, Prime Minister Kan suddenly announced that he had asked the Chubu Electric Power Company to halt the Hamaoka Nuclear Plant. The plant is in Shizuoka Prefecture, and is located in the middle of the hypocenter of a possible Tokai Great Earthquake. It is the most likely quake in the coming 30 years, and chances of a quake are more than 80%. Zenroren and many other groups and people have demanded that this plant be stopped. This decision does reflect a strong people’s opinion. But Prime Minister Kan has only asked [the Company to halt the plant, he did] not order the Company to halt it, though he has the authority to do so. The board has not yet released any decision. Business circles are worried about the impacts [of this closure] on business in the area since most Toyota factories are located there. I hope this will be a step towards the review of the reactors safety standards.

28 April, 2011: Today is the 49th day after the 11th March disaster. In Buddhism, the 49th day is a service day for the deceased. Many Buddhist temples held services in Tohoku region today. The most recent figure for number of death is 14,564, and 11,356 are still missing. Yesterday, Miyagi High School Teachers’ Union released its survey on high school graduates in the prefecture. 44 graduated saw their new job appointment cancelled in April, and 160 were asked to stay at home. These are numbers coming from 26 public high schools out of 99. The situation is very serious particularly for those in Ishinomaki or Matsushima area where the impact of the tsunami was disastrous. A union official said many companies are suffering from business being affected by the disaster. But some companies did not give any explanation to the cancellations […]. The Zenroren special hotline took place today across Japan. Every prefectural federation and local office is answering phone calls from workers across Japan. Zenroren Head Office in Tokyo got calls from Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. […]

[…] From 25 April, the government, TEPCO and the Nuclear Industry Safety Committee jointly held a press conference every day, but they have excluded freelance journalists. This kind of events should be open to public, including experts or internet media. We say this is like “the announcement of the Imperial Headquarters” during the Second World War. They always lied to the public and exaggerated the “victory” of the Japanese imperial army. Ironically, none of the foreign media attended the press conference in English on 25 April. Surprisingly, they explained their information in English to a completely vacant floor. Only internet media attended to record this meaningless press conference. I believe foreign media know TEPCO and NISA don’t say the truth. […]

27 April, 2011: Yesterday in Tokyo, NOUMINREN (Japan Federation of Farmers Movement) organized a rally in front of the TEPCO building. Zenroren is working very closely with them, and many Zenroren members also joined in the rally. Farmers from Fukushima and Ibaraki brought cows, milk cans and vegetables that are prohibited to sell in the market due to the radiation level they contain. At the rally, NOUIMINREN President Brother Shiraishi said that TEPCO and the government have promoted nuclear power plants, so they should take responsibility. […] Brother Sakuma held a board, “Give me back my dream and future!” He is a cattle farmer in Fukushima. He had 130 cows before the accident, and was forced to evacuate. When he came back to his farm several days later, all his cows had died. He warned TEPCO of the infections that could come from his dead cows, and demanded appropriate compensation and to secure an alternative barn for every farmer in Fukushima. You can watch NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) world English report of the rally from the following link: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/26_32.html

The fishing industry is also heavily damaged by the 11th March disaster. Approximately 25% of gross sales in fishery in Japan are concentrated in Iwate and Miyagi. The damaged area is relying on employment in the fishing industry, such as processing, canning or distribution. Most of workers lost their employment. Zenroren is working in solidarity with NOUMINREN and agriculture and fishery cooperatives. […]

22 April, 2011: Yesterday, Tohoku Line, the main railway connecting Tokyo to Tohoku resumed its operation and it is announced the Tohoku bullet train (Shinkansen) will resume its operation from the end of this month. This will greatly help the victims and people in the Tohoku region. […] In Fukushima, it is prohibited to enter within 20 km from the plant, and you will be fined if you enter without permission. Also, the government asked some other municipals such as Iidate village to evacuate within a month, since they found certain level of radiation (20 mSv/h). Today, the government set that the outskirts of the 30 km area has to be ready to evacuate in case of possible serious accident. People in Fukushima are very confused and angry over the decision. It is particularly difficult for the 78 thousand people within 20 km from the plant. Many of them evacuated just after the earthquake and the Fukushima accident, and could not bring their valuables or documents. It is too sad for dairy farmers to abandon their cows, pigs or chickens. Some of them could be transported to other area, but radiation rumor prevent them to find any good alternative place for their animals. There are 3300 cows, 300,000 pigs and 630 thousand chickens in the 20 km area. […] Some owners released their cows and you can see many cows on the streets around the Fukushima plants. It is too sad, and many people cannot contain their anger. Today was the first time TEPCO [Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc. is the fourth largest electric power company in the world and the largest in Asia. TEPCO owns 3 Nuclear Power plants with 17 nuclear reactors, 10 in Fukushima Prefecture and 7 in Niigata Kashiwazaki Kariwa, and the total capacity is 17,308 MW. TEPCO also owns 160 Hydro, 26 Thermal, and 1 Wind Power Plants. TEPCO employed 38,227 employees as on end March 2010] President visited an evacuation site in Fukushima. It is too late. I do believe there is pretty strong sense of anti-nuclear power generation sentiment among Japanese people, particularly in the younger generation. Soon, we will have strong controversial over the nuclear power generation.


UE Rally in Chicago, 2010

21 April, 2011: We have several serious cases of dismissal or lay-off to Zenroren’s toll free hotline across Japan. Thus, Zenroren and its prefecture federations will organize a one-day Special Hotline for affected workers on April 28. […] The Yamagata Federation organized a consultation at the evacuation site in Yamagata City Gymnasium last Sunday, 14 April. Yamagata is located next to Miyagi, and Yamagata prefecture confirmed that about 1500 people have been evacuated from Miyagi and Fukushima. Yamagata Federation organized this with Federation of Democratic Medical Institutions and the Lawyers Association for Freedom. On that day, 5 families visited them. One male worker who worked for a distribution company in Fukushima said his company closed down Haramachi Branch by the Fukushima Plant accident and ordered him to stay at home. But he has to evacuate because his house is in the 20 km evacuation area. The company required him to work in Koriyama (inland Fukushima), but it takes more than 2 hours from Yamagata to Koriyama. He cannot move there because his children go to local public high school. He had no choice but to be fired or move himself to Koriyama, but he has no money. […] Zenroren Yamagata Federation considers the number of evacuees will reduce, but the challenges they face become more and more serious and difficult. They continue this kind of outreach activity to victims in their prefecture. We hope the hotline on 28th will be another opportunity to know better the challenges faced by workers across Japan and organize the next steps to reach out to them.

20 April, 2011: Yesterday, Miyagi and Iwate had snow falls, and the number of disaster related death is increasing. […] Many suspect that the recent TEPCO timetable will soon be deadlocked. The government is inefficient for organizing evacuation for people near the plant in Fukushima. We have many local municipal elections across Japan except for Tohoku. Through election campaign, Japanese people become more suspicious for the current DPJ government. [The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) was founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. In the 2009 election, the DPJ became the ruling party in the House of Representatives, defeating the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party and gaining the largest number of seats in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.] […]

20 April, 2011: [Report from Comrade Sato of Miyagi Prefecture, former president of Miyagi teachers’ union] I finally visited Ishinomaki on 11 April. I climb to the hill then looked down to the coast line. I saw the colour of the town was completely changed and there are no houses at all. I was so shocked that I was speechless. I visited 5 schools in Ishinomaki. Ishinomaki school for disabled has become an evacuation site. Higashi-Matsushima elementary school was a mortuary until recently. Ishinomaki High school is an evacuation site and a hospital, and the new semester is supposed to start from 21 April. Tsunami swept away everything under 3 meters at the Gymnasium of Ishinomaki Commerce High School. Miyagi Fishery High School sunk down by 1 meter because of a land sink. About 48,000 people are at evacuation sites, and I don’t know the number of houses destroyed in Miyagi. But in Ishinomaki, a third of the houses are destroyed. Even in Sendai, many schools are still used as evacuation sites. In some schools, public school teachers are engaged in taking care of evacuees at their school, and most of them cannot take leave and work 7 days a week. A teacher died from overwork. I hope this situation will be solved as soon as possible.

April 18, 2011: TEPCO yesterday issued “a timetable” to terminate the situation, which says 6 to 9 months at least to take the situation terminated. It is especially hard for people on coastal line of Fukushima. For those lives within 20 km from the plant, it is a kind of verdict not to allow them to go back their home at least 6 months. The designation of evacuation area by the government is pretty complicated, and triggers many confusion and anger among people in Fukushima. Last week, the government announced to designate 20 to 30 km area plus some villages where relatively high level of radiation detected as “planned evacuation zone”, requiring people to prepare and evacuate within a month. People in Iitate village and some others are very confused and angry over the government decision. Many of them are engaged in agriculture and dairy husbandry. The government and TEPCO pledged to pay compensation, but they are suspicious to be properly compensated since the amount must be huge and lack of clear and timely information for them. I am afraid many of them would abandon their farming and dairy. It is just too sad. In this situation, the government set up a Reconstruction Design Council last week, but the first comment to be heard from the members was to raise consumption tax. It is unbelievable for me to ask people to bear the burden first by not-progressive consumption tax system. We witnessed same kind of discussion just after the financial crisis in 2008, as you remember and experience. Ruling people always tends to exploit working people.

Zenroren will organize May Day rally across Japan on May 1st at about 300 places. This year’s May Day will focus on our campaign and debate on safety-first nuclear policy and strong checking for current 54 reactors, as well as for decent and worker-oriented recovery of Japanese economy. While we, Japanese working people and Zenroren, do appreciate your solidarity, we continue our relief work and campaign to demand the government to make use of reduced company tax, huge internal reserve of big companies, the “sympathy budget” to US military in Japan or taxation for the rich. It would be appreciated if you would send your solidarity message to May Day Rallies in Japan on May 1st. I am sure your message all over the world will confirm our strong solidarity and your firm presence for my colleagues. Please send your message to our E-mail.

15 April, 2011: On April 14 in Tokyo, Zenroren, independent unions and other democratic organizations organized rallies, demonstration and legislator visits for better recovery policy and public support. 700 members including delegates from Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate participated. In a Rally held at the Parliament meeting room, we had several reports from Tohoku. Brother Sato of Miyagi emphasized importance and necessity for the government and local governments to listen to voice of victims for recovery and rehabilitation. Zenroren President Daikoku spoke on behalf of organizer, “we must go forward to pave the way for the bright future to realize pressing demands of the victims and establish decent working rule.” Zenroren representatives also met with the government to submit the series of demands. The document includes: 1) provide financial support for evacuees to support their daily life, 2) immediate function recovery of local governments to improve better support, 3) more flexible operation of Disaster Relief Act to provide maximum support, 4) to improve compensatory measure for absence from work and 5) publicize Social Aid scheme to be utilized by affected people. Government official replied “We are doing our best, but still not enough. We continue to work with every Ministry based on your demands.” Delegation also met with TEPCO to demands immediate compensation for loss in agriculture, fishery, etc, as well as to change nuclear oriented energy generation to more clean energy oriented one. TEPCO official explained the accident was beyond the scope of assumption with tsunami and earthquake. Fukushima representative protested his comment and insisted that they had pointed well beforehand a possibility failure by tsunami with Chile earthquake level, and demands TEPCO to change its myth of “security” philosophy. Yesterday’s action was very inspiring. Zenroren had Disaster Response Committee meeting yesterday with representatives from Tohoku prefectures. We now renew and update our relief work as longer perspective. Stay in touch.

14 April, 2011: The first news after I landed [back from Europe] at Narita [international airport] was the increase of Fukushima accident scale to level 7, the most serious accident level by the Japanese government. From last weekend, several strong earthquakes hit Fukushima and Kanto area. Narita airport also experienced a big one in the Tuesday morning. The aftershock on April 11 killed 3 in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture. Zenroren constantly sends volunteers to Tohoku by a chartered bus. They are engaged in cleaning up houses and public facilities, such as clinic. […] Zenroren Tochigi Federation organized worker’s hotline campaign on March 30 to 31. Tochigi is located in northern Kanto region, south of Fukushima. They god 24 consultations in 2 days and 20 cases are related to the disaster. One auto-parts factory is suffering from destruction of factory building and the management says there is no immediate resume of consumption. About 1000 workers have to be transferred to other production site out of Tochigi. A female part-timer called the hotline. In other company in Utshunomiya, prefecture capital city, manufacturing is partly resumed but many temp staffs are laid off. The one called to the hotline said the management said lay-off will be till August, and more than 100 workers were working with him. Not only manufacturing industry, but also for example tourist and leisure industry also affected. Workers at a golf course are now under pressure for firing due to dramatic increase of customers after the disaster. A hotel in northern part of Tochigi got 14000 cancels, and they expect to fire every worker and close down in June. Tochigi federation found suspects many similar cases are taken place in the prefecture. Based on these cases, Tochigi federation had a meeting with prefecture government, and requested to take necessary measure to secure employment in the prefecture. On worker’s situation at TEPCO Fukushima plant, I read a precise article on the plane. Please refer to the following link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/world/asia/10workers.html?_r=1&ref=asia

8 April, 2011: Last night in Japan, the biggest aftershock with Magnitude 7.4 scale struck Tohoku. It was 23:32 in Japan, and Japan immediately went into alert for tsunami. The meteorological agency recently indicated we have less than 20% chance of aftershock more than Magnitude 7, and the people felt little easy by this announcement. The last night one hit us in that situation. Scale 6 plus was maximum in Sendai and Kurihara, in Miyagi. It was rather smaller but very destructive level in Tohoku and 6 million households in 4 prefectures lost power. It was terrible and horrible particularly for evacuees. Most trains including bullet train in Tohoku suspend its operation today for checking up. It is fortunate to tell you that no tsunami was detected. Several hundreds injured and 4 killed. 3 of them are aged people, died from heart attack due to huge mental shock over the aftershock. Such a sad… From yesterday, some of Zenroren colleagues including Secretary General went to Tohoku. They are all safe, but one colleague in Sendai said it was so scary and she thought a building would collapse. The Fukushima plant was not damaged, but Onagawa plant in Miyagi lost 2 out of 3 external power to cool down. This is obviously not good news. It is like walking on a string of spiders. One good news from Consumer Co-op Union is they organized special sale for Minami-Soma City in Fukushima. They requested the employer, and discussed with Mayor of Minami-Soma to realize this. Many union members across Japan assisted them. 650 local people came the special sales point and purchased many foods and daily products. Stay in touch.

7 April, 2011: Fukushima Plant situation is not stable. TEPCO and the government’s decision to dump contaminated water into the ocean created grave concern over Japanese people and people in other countries. To prevent another oxygen explosion, nitrogen gas is injected to number 2 and 3 reactors, while water is also pouring to cool down the reactors. It is like a wire-walking. Since I am out of Japan, I realized there is strong sense of nervous in Tokyo; even radiation rate is not fatal. I am very sorry to say that in person. Stay in touch.


(Aid material; Source: Zenroren,4 April 2011)

4 April, 2011: We survived this weekend, and I can see little blooming of cherry blossom in Tokyo. It is hard to characterize the 3-11 disaster, but I have to point out some specific characters. One is there are still more than 15 thousand missing people. Huge tsunami destroyed and took away everything, and the police suspects many missing people were taken away to the Pacific Ocean. Another important thing is basics of the local government lost by the disaster and it revealed deficiencies of neo-liberal policy in this 2 decades. The last thing is the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. It is a human generated calamity, which create grave uncertainty for radiation leakage to air, seawater and foods as well as for recovery work in eastern part of Japan, particularly for Fukushima.

I would like you to browse this youtube message with English subtitles from Mayor Sakurai of Minami Soma City in Fukushima prefecture. Part of his city is designated as in-house evacuation area, but more than half population has already left from the City. His city is particularly suffering from lack of aid support and information from the government and TEPCO. He is a conservative, but very straight forward to defend the people in his city. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70ZHQ—cK40

On last Friday night, aid material departed Zenroren stockyard to 3 prefectures in Tohoku. We shipped 114 boxes of aid materials gathered by our members and other democratic organizations. We will continue to ship aid materials to Tohoku once a week. Zenroren volunteers will start from the end of this week. We are keen to organize relief work as well as finalize the collective bargaining table (Shunto) with better results as soon as possible, since we expect stagnation of economic activity would impacts workers across Japan. There are 88,000 companies and 841 thousand workers at only coastline of 3 prefectures in Tohoku. Not only that, the whole Japanese economy is suffering from the impact of the disaster. Zenroren’s hotline centres across Japan have already received many phone calls from workers who are fired or school graduates cancelled employment. To minimize the impacts and defend employment and rights, Zenroren is now in a process of re-strategizing the coming struggle. Stay in touch.

1 April, 2011: April 1st is a milestone for the Japanese. School and fiscal year begin New Year today. As for elementary, junior high and high schools in 3 prefectures, 262 students and 43 teachers and school staff were killed, and 756 students are missing. 1721 school have certain damage on building and facilities. Some schools already decided to postpone beginning of school year. It is particularly severe for evacuees from Fukushima, since they left everything their home. Also many universities and colleges in Tokyo will begin its class from May. For Japanese, spring is the moment for farewell and welcome. This spring is much heavy and challenging for many people.

Yesterday, the parliament adopted a special agreement on “sympathy budget” for US military in Japan with support of Democratic Party, Liberal Democratic Party, Komei Party and others. This 5-year agreement requires the Japanese government to pay 1 trillion yen (12 billion USD). The Status of Forces Agreement and the Security Treaty do not require this kind of payment, but the Japanese government has been paying since 1987. US military helped relief activity as “Operation Tomodachi”, that means “operation friend”. The Defence Minister stated in the parliament that the US military helps us with their own expenses and we have to reply. The victimized people deserve to be sympathized, don’t they? Zenroren strongly condemn the ruling parties, LDP and Komei, and demands them to expense this money to relief and aid activity. If US consider Japan as true Tomodachi or Friend, I do want President Obama to tell the Prime Minister Kan what’s right and wrong, and say his government does not accept such sympathy budget which should be used for people in Tohoku. I hope our friends in US will raise this issue in your workplace and community.

This morning, I found a railway company I use everyday operate as normal schedule except for limited express. Honestly, it is difficult to say but, I feel like released some. This year, cherry blossom bloomed a bit late. Cherry blossom, Sakura, is always gives us some hope and fragility of human life. As temperature rises, electricity consumption decreases. TEPCO announced they would not conduct planned blackout from yesterday till weekend. Actual electricity consumption reduced in a great deal in Tokyo area. This is not only because of temperature, but also saving electricity. I do hope this should be good opportunity for Japanese people to build a society relying on recyclable energy. Stay in touch, and have a nice weekend.

30 March, 2011: Yesterday, TEPCO president Katsumata finally apologized at his press conference. It was first time to see him on the media, and honestly, too late. It was also too late to admit decommissioning of the reactors (1 to 4) of Fulushima Daiichi Power Plant. Shocking date is unfolding day by day. 3,355 times higher radioactive iodine 131 was detected 330 meter away from the water outlet. The Nuclear Safety Commission said there is a possibility to take more than one year to cool down the reactors. People in Tokyo are concerned over water, vegetable, milk and the blackout. Trains and subways operate with 70 to 80% of normal schedule, and it is too crowded in commuting time. As you know, Fukushima prefecture suffered from triple difficulties; the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident. In the designated evacuation area (20 km from the plant), they cannot begin recovery and even searching the missing people. They are literally abandoned, and evacuees moved to inland Fukushima or Saitama Prefecture. The area even rather far from the compulsory evacuation, town like Minami-Soma or Iwaki become like a ghost town.

30 March, 2011: Report from Brother Nogi, General Secretary, Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Trade Unions: The most devastated area in Fukushima was called “Hama-Dori” or “coastal street”. Many people believe the whole coastal area is not accessible, but people still lives there and need aid and assistance in north and south end of Hama-Dori. Fukushima Federation organized a truck to deliver aid material there on 27 March. Soma, a beautiful beach and popular shore for shellfish gathering, is in a decrepit state. Rubbles continued over, over and over. We saw a dogleg train smashed by tsunami. We dropped by one of the nursing homes for aged people in Minami-Soma city. We have one Zenroren member working there, and 30 patients were killed by tsunami. She had a narrow escape and said “we cannot see the Pacific Ocean from the home, but we saw sky-high tsunami was coming here.” […] I cannot find correct expression or wording to describe what we see in Hama-Dori. But we realized our mission as working class is to save and support them. The fact left us speechless that even police cannot reach the missing in the 20km evacuation area. I thank you for solidarity and support for Fukushima.

30 March, 2011: 20 days have passed since the 3-11 disaster. As you may know, overwhelming atmosphere over Japanese economy and society is “self-restraint” or “jishuku” in Japanese language. Toyota and major manufacturing companies still halt their production and this suspension seriously impacts small subcontractors and particularly contingent workers. To Zenroren’s toll free hot-line, many workers are asking assistance on terminating employment or lay-off. Some companies cancelled new recruitment from April for high school and college graduates. Zenroren affiliated unions in Tohoku are working to secure employment and wages. Co-op workers union in Miyagi agreed with the management that 60% of wage will be compensated during closure of the stores. It is great success and victory for not only Zenroren members, while the Labor Ministry issued “information” to inform employers and workers that employers does not have obligation to pay wages during the planned blackout and disaster impact. […]


(At Fukushima and Miyagi; Source: Zenroren, 30 March 2011)

29 March, 2011: The situation at the Fukushima nuclear power plant is not stable today, contaminated water with high radiation leaked from the reactor, and TEPCO detected minor level of plutonium from soil surrounding the plant. Particular concern is over leakage outside the turbine building. TEPCO finally admitted a break of the pressure containers of Reactor No. 1, 2 and 3. A farmer in Fukushima committed suicide yesterday. In his farm, 7500 cabbages are just ready to take in. He lost his hope for the future of his farming in Fukushima. Radiation level in atmosphere outside Fukushima is stable. But many people believe we don’t have an access to correct information. Zenroren calls on its affiliates to send their aid material and to register volunteers in advance. We will work with other democratic organizations, and ready to begin full-scale relief and support activity in the near future. My colleagues departed today for Fukushima and Miyagi to assist Zenroren’s prefectural federation for longer term assistance.

29 March, 2011: Report from Postal Workers Union Member in Kesen-numa, Miyagi: […] I was off-duty on the day and at a store on a hill. Fortunately, my home is not damaged. Since we lost every tools of communication, I went to my post office next morning, and found many of my colleagues could not come back to their home. The Kesen-numa Post Office is located 1 meter above the surface, but water came inside the office with about 20 cm height. Other 5 offices and 1 branch office were completely destroyed. We cleaned up the office and send back a truck that came from Sendai the previous day. 5 colleagues who went to distribute mails in Karakuwa area showed up suddenly. We welcomed them with big applause and hugged each other. They stayed one night at an evacuation site, and walked 15 km along with railroad to come back. Another colleague came back next day. Many colleagues lost their home and their loved ones. We discussed and decided those like me who was not seriously damaged are taking lead to recover ordinal operation. We rushed to confirm available mailboxes in town, and deliver mails we have had, list up all evacuation sites in town. On March 22, we resumed operation at every post offices and branches in town. All we can do as postal worker is to deliver a letter with full of encouragement and warm messages as soon as possible, and deliver hope for them. We thank you for your support and solidarity.

28 March, 2011: There was pretty big aftershock (scale 5) in Miyagi this morning. We had third week-end after the 3-11 disaster. Many family members and relatives went to Tohoku to find their missing loved one or to help to clean and recover their house there. Many public schools are used for evacuation sites, and they had graduation ceremony at many evacuation sites over last weekend. Many school lost their official certificate for graduation and class record, and some of their students and teachers are still missing. However, many evacuees and volunteers are helping and joining in the ceremony. We see many aged people also participated and some holds their grandchildren’s picture. I do hope those students will remember hardship but also hope and solidarity among people and community forever. […] We are scared about an official announcement of starting school by the prefectural education board by insisting “radiation is safe”. There are 7 public high schools with 2800 students in 30 km evacuation area centring the Fukushima Daiichi Plant. It is still not sure when they can resume new school year. Zenkyo local demands to proof radiation free school and special support and consideration for those schools.

24 March, 2011: Thank you for reading this update every day, and your continuous support and solidarity for Japanese working people and Zenroren. It is sad for me to tell you that death toll exceeds 10 thousand. […] In 2-days Zenroren executive board, we had many reports on damages and impacts for our members and union, as well as courageous relief activity by Zenroren affiliates. Jichiroren, Japan Federation of Prefectural and Municipal Unions [civil servants’ union], reported that most of municipalities in Iwate coast line are organized by them. Unfortunately, those of Yamada, Otsuchi and Rikuzentakata were very severely damaged and many of their members were killed. They lost a capacity as local municipality, but our members are sleeplessly working for residents, by providing food, maintaining the evacuation sites, issuing disaster-victim certificate, taking care of aged people and schools. They found that one municipal worker takes care of 300 evacuees! Pushed by Jichiroren, many local governments across Japan send their staff to Tohoku for emergency assistance, and many Jichiroren members are sent to work with them. Most municipal employees in these 3 cities have not come back to their home or changed their cloth, even they are also victims. Jichiroren insists it is urgent to recover local government ability, and public service unions and its members have its special role. Jichiroren members there found that most public service employees cannot pick up aid material such as food or cloth, they put evacuees before themselves. It is hard to accept but a local government worker (not Zenroren member) committed suicide over too heavy mental and physical pressure. That is why Jichiroren is now preparing for separate support for local government employees by sending separate aid material and physical assistance for them. In past 2 decades, Japanese ruling parties promoted to merger of local governments, as neo-liberal agenda. We had approximately 3,000 local municipalities 20 years ago, but we have now about 1800. Basics of local municipalities have been shrinking, which causes so many problems in damaged area. Zenroren will deal this issue in our demands against the government and in the local election campaigns.

23 March, 2011: Radiation leakage is becoming second shocking wave by revealing contamination of vegetables, milk, seawater and finally tap water in Fukushima. The Fukushima Prefecture urges parents not to use tap water for baby and infant. The areas radiation detected are mostly within 20 to 30 km from the nuclear power plant. In Iidate village 40 km away from the plant, 40 times bigger caesium was found from soil, than official criteria. We see many people in Fukushima particularly with children are escaping there and coming to Tokyo area. I think this will be second shock wave by reactor explosion. With carefully taking account of any development, Zenroren members are trying best for relief activity. […] You might see a picture from Japan yesterday about TEPCO Vice President visited one of the evacuation sites in Fukushima, where in the designated area of evacuation set by the government, in order to express their sorry for local people. Story itself is “nice” because local people accept his apology, but actually this was just disgusting (sorry) for me as Japanese. Most local people at a school gymnasium were sitting on the floor Japanese style, like sitting straight with their legs folded under them. This is very formal style to welcome higher ranking people. Vice president was standing and taking a bow to them. This is what the relationship and power balance between local people in Fukushima and TEPCO. They have domesticated local people and the union by “spraying” money. Also, I have to point out that most workers at the plant dealing with exploded reactors at the front line are not TEPCO employees. They are hired day-to-day bases by sub or sub-sub contractor. I found one job-ad at Fukishima Daiichi Plant by one of the sub-contractors, which says you can be hired with 9000 to 12000 Yen salary for a day to work at the plant. Most dangerous and dirty work is done by these people without any appropriate compensation and a trade union. We do express solidarity with those workers and some employees of TEPCO at the front line sacrificing them to cool down and control over the reactors, but at the same time we need fundamental change on nuclear power policy as well as Japanese trade union movement.

Finally, we will have local level elections in some part of Japan except for Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima from tomorrow. We first have Governors elections in 12 prefectures including Tokyo, then city and village mayor and assembly member election. Zenroren and progressive parties proposed to postpone the whole election for 6 months to concentrate relief and recovery activity, but conservative parties including Democratic Party did not accept our proposal. I believe those want to conduct election in darkness and without any open discussion. Current Tokyo Governor Ishihara is extreme rightwing neo-liberalist. He recently commented the disaster as “divine punishment”. He also said “people’s selfishness must be washed away by tsunami”. He was severely criticized and cancelled his comment, but I believe he lacks in aptitude as politician and the governor. Though we oppose to hold the elections, but we do our best for progressive candidate victory.

22 March, 2011: We had permanent executive board meeting this afternoon to examine and discuss about the situation and our next plan. In initial 10 days, we did pretty good job to open up a main supply line by car to Fukushima and Miyagi. However, we have still difficulty to reach the most damaged area, in another word, Pacific coast line in 3 prefectures. Zenroren prefectural federations in 3 prefectures are restoring its capacity, but it seems for us that main artery starts working but capillary still not working well. […] Honestly, there is a gap between areas tsunami struck, ones damaged mainly by earthquake and ones impacted by the nuclear power plant explosion. Zenroren is now strategizing our next step. Small aftershock hit Tokyo right now. Today we had aftershocks for 4 or 5 times. It is like we are drunk or traffic sickness. […]

21 March, 2011: It is raining in eastern part of Japan, [it is a public holiday in Japan] and a particular day for Japanese people to pray for our ancestor. It is sad that so many more people have to pray in next year. At noon today, 8469 deaths are confirmed and 13262 are missing. I sometimes feel the nuclear plant accident is like a big wall between Tokyo and damaged area, by watching TV or reading newspapers. The accident itself is huge problem, but it should not be obstacle for organizing relief activities for Tohoku. As we see, evacuated people and rescue or relief workers are still struggling for survival.

The Zenroren Federation of the Aichi prefecture (AIROREN) organized a fuel truck and left Nagoya for Miyagi on 19 March with 3.5kl heating oil. AIROREN asked Shuwa Oil which company, which is organized by Construction and Transport Workers (CTG) to rent an oil truck, and purchased heating oil by donation. Brother Kurematsu, AIROREN President and Brother Tanifuji, CTG Aichi President, drove the truck for 12 hours and arrived in Sendai on 20 March. They first went to Zenroren Miyagi Federation, and provided oil to 8 evacuation sites and city office of Sendai and Shiogama. Even in Tokyo area, we are suffering from severe shortage of gasoline or heating oil. My father-in-law in Tokyo drove his car to line up for gas station around 21:00 and stay overnight there to get them. Gas stations in my neighbourhood are closed, and we see decreasing number of car on streets. It is close to panic. The government only calls on Japanese people to stay calm and reduce consumption. In 2002 at the time of Koizumi [Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006, from the Liberal Democratic Party] administration, they abolished “Oil Industry Law” which requires oil distributors to submit its plan to provide oil supply to the Ministry in order to minimize price gap and secure sufficient access to oil by everyone. LDP-Komei [party]government at that time proposed to abolish the law and it was supported by Democratic Party of Japan and Social Democrats. Market rule applies in oil supply and its causes delay to supply oil to Tohoku and shortage of them in other area. We can see that Neo-liberal deregulation causes a trouble now.

At the nuclear plants, due to success of spraying water on the reactors, temperature is gradually better. TEPCO is working to restore its electric system to cool down reactors, but it takes few more days. As I wrote in my previous updates, these operations are becoming like a show for military industry. Defence Ministry announced to send tanks (?) to sweep rubbles around the reactors. Not bulldozers, but tanks! The government and TEPCO announcement on radiation leakage are not accurate. They always say “it is safe, not for immediate danger” or “this level is much less than your X-ray or CT scan at hospital”. These are true, but they underestimate “internal exposure” for longer term. […] I stayed at home today and playing with my daughter. My neighbour is so quiet and there is much less food in supermarket. Many people are afraid of raining in relation with radiation leakage. I hope our daily life will come back soon, even in Tokyo. Stay in touch, and hope you are not too worried about us.

20 March, 2011: Zenroren truck came back yesterday evening, and Zenkyo (Teachers Union) truck left Tokyo today. By these efforts, situation of evacuation sites in Tohoku is becoming slightly better. President of Kagoshima IROREN (Japan Federation of Medical Workers Union) went into Miyagi and working at Saka General Hospital. He left Kagoshima just after his first collective bargaining negotiation. The management proposed 120 yen increase for a month, but he insisted there will be many things to discuss later including night shift. He reported relief activity at Saka Hospital is going pretty well, but medicine and other daily necessity are in severe shortage. The hospital is responsible for 10 thousand evacuees in 80 evacuation sites in Ishinomaki City. We expect much longer term activity in damaged area, so we have to take care of ourselves and prepare for longer operation. I found some people evacuated my neighbours from Fukushima. […] Stay in touch, and hope you are not too worried about us.

19 March, 2011: It is Saturday, and we don’t have planned blackout by TEPCO today. They said total power use on holiday is much less than weekdays. The planned blackout caused 3 traffic accidents and house fire in Kanto region. We are fed up with it. Shortage of oil is becoming serious in Tokyo, too. Every driver is lining up before gas station. Traffic becomes less today, since we are reluctant to use a car. […] On the Fukushima nuclear power plant, suddenly Japanese Self Defence Forces are shown up more often. It is like an exhibition of their equipage. US military also provide their special fire vehicle to TEPCO, and a surveillance drone “global hawk” to monitor the plant. In these 2 days, the Defence Minister suddenly has begun the press conference to show how SDFs are working hard. Fortunately, the situation seems to be very slightly better, but we have to be cautious on the development at the plant to prevent chain reaction and real motive of the SDF.

18 March, 2011: Zenroren expresses deep appreciation for your support and solidarity. It has been a week since the earthquake. 6406 deaths are confirmed and 10259 are missing (only official count on police list). 380 thousand people are evacuated to 2200 evacuation sites across Tohoku and Kanto region [two regions most affected by earth quack and tsunami]. The weather is slightly better in Tohoku, energy shortage is very serious in small villages. 90 thousand rescue workers are continuing their work in Tohoku. Yesterday, the government sent special alert to save electricity against a possible huge blackout in metropolitan area. Most of Zenroren staff members left the office before 17:00. I saw more than one thousand people at IKEBUKURO Station [Tokyo] rushing into platform! Railway companies succeeded to line up them and no one injured fortunately. Due to the planned blackout by TEPCO, people in Tokyo are so cautious and nervous to lose a way home. I believe it is like a mind-control for Japanese people to convince nuclear power generation is necessary for us. At 11:00 today, Zenroren car left Tokyo with 7 doctors and nurses departed for Miyagi and Fukushima. This is bringing urgent materials, such as masks, gloves, rice cakes and instant noodles. On Sunday, the next truck will leave. Zenroren Prefectural Federations in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima are working hard to organize union relief work in local community in solidarity with other democratic organizations or prefectural governments. We will have a weekend and public holiday on Monday, but we are continuing our work without any day-off, maintaining high hope to go forward.

Special units of the Japanese Self Defence Forces (SDF), the Police and the Tokyo Fire Department continue to spray water into the reactors today. According to TV, it seems to be a comparatively lull at the reactors. Currently, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the cabinet and the Nuclear and Industry Safety Agency (NISA) are leading to deal with the plants. However, NISA is under the pro-nuclear Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. With the fact that the government did not inform the public of the explosion at the No.1 reactor of Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant (March 12) until five and a half hours after the explosion, Zenroren believes this was an irresponsible response. The government should swiftly reveal accurate facts to the public and inform them of how the government intends to cope in the event the worst-case scenario occurs. Astonishing news is Mr. Yonemura, President of Japan Business Federation said in his press conference on 16th “The Japanese technology of nuclear power plants that survives the greatest natural disaster of the millennium is what we should be proud of. The current atomic energy administration should be more proud of that”. I can’t believe what he is saying. He is a true capitalist.

17 March, 2011: Thank you very much for your continuing support and solidarity. Snow in the damaged areas continues today, and evacuees are suffering from shortage of oil for heating and transportation. This is very critical moment and our members in the area are enduring to reach the area and provide support. At 14:00 (JST), 5,321 deaths were confirmed and 9,329 are missing. Gradually, transportation becomes slightly better and Zenroren car will leave tomorrow morning with 9 doctors and nurses for Miyagi. […]

11 March, 2011: For those may concerned, friend of Zenroren, an hour ago, very big earthquake struck north-eastern part of Japan. Zenroren Tokyo office was hit very strongly, however no one at the office injured. It is true for Gensuikyo [Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs] office, too. Zenroren is doing utmost to contact prefectural federations such as Miyagi, Yamagata, Iwate [prefectures in Japan’s north-eastern region], to confirm every body safe. The situation is unclear, since many tsunamis are coming to the eastern part of Japan including Tokyo or Nagoya. Several fires confirmed even in Tokyo and every train operation is suspended at 16:00 in Japanese standard time. This is just initial information to inform you Zenroren office and staff are safe.

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