Thousands took to the streets of Tokyo as Japanese utility Hokkaido Electric Power Co began shutting the country’s last active nuclear reactor on Saturday, leaving the world’s third-biggest user of atomic energy with no nuclear-derived electricity for the first time since 1970.
The tsunami backed by earthquake disaster in March 2011 at Tokyo Electric Power’sFukushima Daiichi nuclear plant triggered radiation leaks, this further hammered public faith in nuclear power and prevented the restart of reactors shut down for regular maintenance checks.
As per Reuters report Hokkaido Electric said it started lowering output from the 912-megawatt No.3 unit at Tomari nuclear plant in northern Japan at 5 p. m. (0800 GMT).
The maintenance on the unit is set to begin at around 11 p.m. (1400 GMT) when power generation falls to zero, with the unit to be shut down completely by the early hours of Sunday.
The shutdown means all of Japan’s 50 reactors have been taken off line, marking the country’s first nuclear power-free day since four decades.
Thousands of Anti-Nuke supporters took to the streets of Tokyo in various areas to celebrate the shutdown.
Last of Japan’s 54 nuclear reactors to be shut downproving nuclear to be the least reliable, most expensive and feared power source.
— Paul Flynn(@Paulflynnmp) May 5, 2012
However the shut-down is only expected to be temporary, but protesters held out hope that Japanese officials would move towards finding an alternative solution to nuclear energy for the country. Prior to the 2011 Fukushima disaster, Japan relied heavily on nuclear power to fuel its electricity needs, with close to one third of its energy coming from nuclear power.
In front of Tokyo’s Trade Ministry, where anti-nuke activists have gathered to celebrate Japan going nuclear-free twitter.com/HirokoTabuchi/…
— Hiroko Tabuchi (@HirokoTabuchi) May 5, 2012
Japan is #nuclear free as of today bbc.in/Ld4FbS at least temporarily. Guess what? The lights haven’t gone out. #Fukushima
— Greens in the EP (@GreensEP) May 5, 2012
Likely NOT a permanent nuclear shutdown, mind you. For background: Japan’s Leaders Fret as Nuclear Shutdown Nears nytimes.com/2012/05/05/wor…
— Hiroko Tabuchi (@HirokoTabuchi) May 5, 2012
In below picture happy Japanese people with Anti-Nuke banners
Bye-bye nuclear power in Japan, at least for now? Last operating reactor sked’d to start winding down, right about now. twitter.com/HirokoTabuchi/…
— Hiroko Tabuchi (@HirokoTabuchi) May 5, 2012
Women were seen performing a Fukushima folk dance around the Trade Ministry
Women are performing a Fukushima folk dance around the Trade Ministry as Japan shuts down its last operating reactor. twitter.com/HirokoTabuchi/…
— Hiroko Tabuchi (@HirokoTabuchi) May 5, 2012
Amidst other Tokyo anti-nuke rally protesters, this 81 years old protester toasts Japan going nuclear-free, who just ended a 5-day hunger strike.
Tokyo anti-nuke rally toasts Japan going nuclear-free, led by 81-yr-old protester who just ended a 5-day hunger strike. twitter.com/HirokoTabuchi/…
— Hiroko Tabuchi (@HirokoTabuchi) May 5, 2012
In below picture are some local Fukushima residents who were there to celebrate the anti nuclear rally:
Abt 300 people are gathered in front of Trade Ministry to mark Japan’s nuclear shutdown, incl lawmakers, Fukushima moms twitter.com/HirokoTabuchi/…
— Hiroko Tabuchi (@HirokoTabuchi) May 5, 2012
