The Controversy Over Nuclear Waste in Suttsu: A Community Divided

In the quaint village of Suttsu, located in northern Japan, a day that began with joy soon took on a more somber tone for Nobuka Miki. While celebrating a local Buddhist festival with her daughter, she found herself confronted by a television reporter’s unexpected question about a controversial proposal: the construction of an underground storage site for Japan’s high-level radioactive waste. The inquiry left Nobuka flustered and perplexed. “As long as it’s not dangerous, then it should be OK?” she stammered before retreating from the uncomfortable conversation.

The Awakening to a National Issue

Before that pivotal interview in 2020, Nobuka, who operates a local beauty salon, was blissfully unaware that her village was under consideration for a vast underground vault designed to securely hold Japan’s accumulated nuclear waste. Her initial indifference turned to alarm as friends began calling, expressing their concerns. “Everything was lovely and suddenly, I heard ‘nuclear waste,’” she recounted, her perspective shifting dramatically as the weight of the situation settled in. With urgency, Nobuka transitioned from a naive acceptance to becoming an outspoken opponent of the site’s proposal, determined to protect her community.

The Community’s Decision-Making Process

What surprised Nobuka even further was the realization that Suttsu’s leadership had voluntarily put the town forward for consideration as a waste storage site. In a bid to revitalize the struggling fishing community, which has been deeply impacted by declining herring stocks, Suttsu’s mayor, Kataoka Haruo, had initiated a survey process in 2020 following promises of substantial government subsidies. The first stage alone promised up to 2 billion yen (approximately $19.4 million), with further financial incentives worth 7 billion yen (around $48.6 million) if the project proceeded successfully.

The Rippling Effects on Community Cohesion

Five years later, the divisive nature of the proposal has frayed the fabric of Suttsu’s social interactions. With a population of under 3,000, relationships that once thrived on long-standing friendships have become strained. Nobuka reflects grimly on the fallout: “People who support the decision wouldn’t come to my salon, and I wouldn’t go to their shops either. The first two years were the hardest.” Recently, at a public meeting, the divide was palpable, with each side nearly evenly represented as proponents and opponents sat apart, reflecting the fissures in the community’s unity.

Perspectives on Nuclear Power

Supporters of the waste site, like local electronics shop owner Tanaka Noriyuki, argue for a balanced acknowledgment of the benefits that nuclear power provides. “We all benefit from nuclear power,” he observed, suggesting that discussions about the waste should be embraced rather than shunned. However, as the community grapples with divisions, the stakes grow ever higher. The proposal remains among the options for selecting a long-term waste disposal site, despite rising safety concerns linked to potential earthquakes and volcanic activity in the region.

National Implications of Local Decisions

Experts agree that the controversy in Suttsu is emblematic of a broader, global dilemma surrounding nuclear waste management. As of 2023, Japan has amassed over 19,000 tons of highly radioactive waste—a legacy of its lengthy engagement with nuclear power since the inception of its first reactor in 1966. With the waste currently stored in temporary facilities at nuclear plants, calls for a permanent solution are increasing, especially given the long-term risks associated with improper storage.

The necessity for a nationwide dialogue on nuclear waste is urgent, as suggested by Takumi Saito, a professor at the University of Tokyo. He argues that for a resource-poor nation like Japan, nuclear energy remains a critical component of energy security, making it imperative to address the waste disposal challenge.

Global Context and Challenges

Many countries are wrestling with similar issues, each facing public opposition and complex logistical challenges in establishing underground storage facilities for their nuclear waste. The United States, for instance, has struggled for decades to get approval for a waste site at Yucca Mountain, highlighting the contentious nature of such projects worldwide. Despite the growing support for renewed nuclear power initiatives aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels, the absence of approved long-term waste storage solutions presents a significant barrier.

The Fear of Nuclear Accidents

In Suttsu, fears surrounding potential nuclear accidents loom large, exacerbated by both natural phenomena and human error. Nobuka, now deeply engaged in community activism, joined the Town Residents’ Association to advocate against the project. Her concerns about nuclear waste and the potential ramifications for Suttsu are rooted in a feeling of exclusion from official dialogues. “Nobody showed up and asked about our concerns,” she lamented, expressing a growing unease about being sidelined in critical discussions that impact her home and family.

Moving Forward: Uncertain Paths

As the local government navigates its path forward, the mayor of Suttsu has committed to furthering public awareness about the engineering requirements for the proposed site. Nevertheless, questions remain about the community’s ability to withdraw from the process if opposition continues to intensify. “Those procedures are not clear,” remarked Naoko Watanabe, a researcher at Hokkaido University, emphasizing the need for transparent communication among all stakeholders as this contentious issue evolves.

In Suttsu, the crossroads between local community choice and national energy policy has resulted in a delicate balancing act, fraught with uncertainty and division. Nobuka and her fellow residents remain vigilant, determined to voice their concerns in an ongoing struggle that resonates far beyond their small village in northern Japan.