Last-ditch attempts by the prime minister, Yoshihiko Noda, to win support for the early restart of two reactors at Oi power plant in western Japan have failed amid a hardening of public opposition to nuclear power.

Of course, anti-nuclear activists have been celebrating this once-in-a-lifetime-success all weekend. Who would have imagined a year ago that all reactors would shut down so soon after the Fukushima disaster in 2011?

Watch them celebrating (last Sunday, Koenj, Tokyo) in the following video:

A group called ‘Amateurs’ revolt’ (in Japanese: Shiroto no ran) organized this demonstration shortly after the nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima on March 11, 2011. They have been organizing demonstrations in Tokyo since 2004, and after 3.11 they decided to protest against the government, the nuclear agency and TEPCO. When they announced the demonstration, they expected the turnout to be around 500 participants. No one expected that on the day 15,000 would show up. It was exciting for everyone involved to see such a mass of people protesting and voicing their anger about the biggest manmade catastrophe in Japan’s history: not only long-term activists, but families with children, punks, subcultures, young and old people, foreigners living in Tokyo… It was the spirit of this moment to change a hole society and to abandon all nuclear power plants as soon as possible. But what happened in Japan since this first major demonstration? How did this emerging protest movement continue to develop?

On our blog, we tried to follow the anti-nuclear movement over the past year. The Amateurs’ revolt continued to organize a anti-nuclear demonstration every month from April on: in May, June, August, September… On September 19, 2012, they joined forces with every anti-nuclear group and organization in Japan and performed the biggest success so far with more than 60,000 people participating in an outstanding demonstration with a lot of media coverage in Japan as well as internationally. On the other hand, the police forces became more and more aggressive over the summer, resulting in an arrest of 13 people (including some of the organizers) on that day and holding them back in prison for up to 23 days.

It came as a shock for the amateurs’ revolt. They felt responsible for getting their friends arrested and decided that it was not worth risking more people to get arrested, so they temporarily stopped to take the leading role in organizing the anti-nuclear demonstrations in Tokyo.

Other people soon started to fill that empty space, for example No Nukes More Hearts, Tanpopo, Drums of Fury… it seemed that more and more organizations entered the stage, and the demonstrations were a bit smaller, but all in all the number of demos increased rapidly, not only in Tokyo, but all over the country. We reported about some of them on our blog: here, here, and here.

In the last couple of months, we saw huge protest events with several thousands of people happening to commemorate the first year anniversary of 3.11, and we heard that by now 53 out of 54 reactors in Japan are stopped – sure it is not an official government’s decision yet, but we are sure that hundreds of demonstrations, ten thousands of participants and more than 70% of the Japanese society being against nuclear power plants now is a huge argument that cannot be ignored by the Japanese politicians after all.

If you had asked anybody at the demonstration at April 10 one year ago, I guess that nobody would have expected this development. But it is still no time to rest, and nothing is certain yet. We have to continue to protest, to discuss it, to talk about it and bring the issue up in the media. One year after, we are still excited about how this will continue, just like after the first demonstration…

Another highlight was our first official festival appearance at the One World Human Rights Festival 2012 in Prague. Watch our interview her:

Another reactor in Japan was shut down, leaving just one reactor -out of the 54- running. As stated in this article, the official reasons are maintenance and stress tests, but also local governments and electric companies are facing a big public opposition.

There was one panel at the Left Forum in New York City that broached the issue of this public opposition called ‘People’s Movement In the Post Fukushima Nuclear Power Catastrophe‘. Panelists were Keisuke Jinno, Yuko Tonohira as well as Sabu Kohso - the latter two are founders of jfissures.org, a bilingual blog/webpage where we found a lot of information for the preparations of RADIOACTIVISTS and also some of our interview partners (Yoshitaka Mori, Yoshihiko Ikegami, Chigaya Kinoshita. We were also invited as panelists but since we couldn’t come to New York we ended up sending a video message where we summarize our experiences with RADIOACTIVISTS.

You can watch the whole panel here:

While first panelist Keisuke Jinno explains some general facts concerning the situation of the nuclear catastrophe regarding social, political and economical aspects, Yuko Tanahira goes into different aspects of people’s movements against nuclear power in Japan. Her discourse (which can be followed starting video number 5) answers a lot of questions we got asked at the Q&As after screenings of RADIOACTIVISTS, so if you are interested in the issue, please watch her lecture. Also Sabu Kohso gives some relevant insights on the issues of public opposition to nuclear energy in Japan, also explaining differences and similarities with the Occupy Wallstreet movement.

Last but not least, you can watch our video message for the panel here:

Last Sunday (March 11, 2012) a lot of protest events took place all over Japan (and the world) to commemorate the triple catastrophe and especially the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident of 3.11. The “Metropolitan Coalition Against Nukes”, a network of anti-nuclear organizations and individuals which formed in September 2011, organized the biggest protest march at Hibiya Park, Tokyo, with more than 30.000 participants under the following appeal:

The Tohoku Earthquake occurred at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2011.
This disaster not only resulted in nearly 20,000 the deaths and
missing persons by the earthquake and tsunami, but developed into the
serious accident by explosion and meltdown of Fukushima Daiitchi
Nuclear Power Plant.
In this accident, the vast area of East Japan was polluted by the
radioactive material, and people who were obliged to refuge exceeded
100,000.
Futhermore, the life and health of people, especially children who
live in this country, are exposed to serious danger even now by the
government which does not try to protect people’s lives.
Now, almost plants stop for a periodic inspection, and the schedules
of re-operation are not clear because of the disapproval by local .
The public opinion of the anti-nuclear power is increasing, and the
possibility of the big accident by a future big earthquake is pointed
out.
However, the government and the electric power companies are going to
advance re-operation.
We think that true revival is facing firmly not only the damage of a
natural disaster, but the damage of the nuclear power plant disaster
which is a man-made.
The unprecedented mixed disaster of earthquake and nuclear power plant
accident is advancing even now which will be one year soon from that
March 11.
We mourn for victims , renew the oath to anti-nuclear and perform a
big demonstration parade.
Starting a demonstration with a silent prayer, and we join surrounding
the National Diet Building for mourning and a protest with the candles
after the parade.
With people in the world who are opposed to nuclear power.

This demo in Tokyo was just one among may. In Koriyama, Fukushima, for example, more than 15.000 people gathered to demonstrate against nuclear power.

Another protest event was organised by the Kyoto-based band “Frying Dutchman”, which was virtually unknown a year ago, but became an internet sensation over the past few months with their protest song “humanERROR”. To commemorate the events of 3.11 they appealed:

Please play this song wherever you are; in the streets, shops, your car, your friend’s or colleagues’ cars. Even if you are alone at home, please play this tune in your room.
Of course, if you are at a large-scale gathering, such as a demonstration, rally, exhibition, etc., we hope humanERROR will be noticed.
But participation is not limited to where there are many people. Even listening on your media player, or your smartphone, pc, etc. is participation in the humanERROR parade.

The parade started at March 10 at noon, Japanese time. We hope this parade as well as all the other events were successful and were able to bring the issues related to the Fukushima accident back in the people’s minds.

What’s going on now?

You may be surprised to hear that out of 54 nuclear reactors in Japan, only 3 are now operational. It’s us who are stopping them, I must say. It’s planned that all the reactors will suspend operations in April. Though we cannot tell whether the authorities will try to resume the operations by then, we cannot wait for all the reactors being stopped.

Demonstrations take place every week everywhere in Japan. The turnout ranges from hundreds to ten thousand or twenty thousand. The protesters express themselves in various ways. Because the media don’t cover them you may think that demonstrations no longer occur, but that’s not the case at all. One (great one!) will take place on February 9. On March 11, marking the first anniversary massive demonstrations will take place. This movement never dies.

Radioactive materials are still detected everywhere. Geiger counters still sell well because everyone is busy measuring. Cesium was recently detected in milk powder. A citizen group which found it demanded the company that produced the contaminated milk powder suspends to sell it and then it succeeded. Everyone is struggling against nukes. Our fight goes on. Chances are, some people will get sick, so many of us are ready for the long struggle ahead. We are really committed.

Last week we started the series ‘The aftermath of 3.11′ on our blog, which we want to continue today with a letter we received from Junko Harada, a Japanese artist, owner of the gallery Roji to Hito (Streets & People), and of course an anti-nuclear activist. We asked her how she perceived last year’s events, and how things might develop in 2012. Read her answer here:

You asked me about how the Japanese anti-nuclear movement has gone since August. It is difficult for me to be precise because too many things have happened. I’m going to respond to your questions by simply talking about what I know. I could be wrong with the names I’m going to mention below, or could be wrong chronologically. But anyway, I try to refresh my memory.

Since you left Japan in August, there have been various anti-nuclear actions. As a demonstration, on September 11, a demo called “Genpatsu Yamero Demo,” or “Stop Nuclear Power Plants Demo”, which was led by Shiroto no Ran (Amateur’s revolt) – you are already familiar with this name – took place. Many people showed up, but the police’s brutality was harsher than ever before. The protesters couldn’t move in the way they wanted to. It was unusually tense, while the police over-regulated us, ordering us to keep a certain speed to walk, allowing us to walk in a very thin line, preventing bystanders on the sidewalk from joining us. Eleven people were arrested – unjustly, of course. It eventually became the last demonstration led by Shiroto no Ran in 2011.

Shiroto no Ran got stuck due to the police brutality on September 11, but there have been various active groups: Twit No Nukes (so-called “Twitter Demo”, led by Hirano-san); NO NUKES MORE HEARTS organized by Misao-san – this group has already been active before 3.11; those traditional groups such as Gensuikin, an anti-nuclear weapons organization; “Drums of Fury”, a drum circle in which Illcommonz-san is also involved, organized by Minoru Ide-san. Every weekend in Shibuya, Shinjuku, or in front of TEPCO headquarters, they have rallied. They’ve rallied not only in central Tokyo, such as Shibuya, but also in western suburbs such as Tama area and Kunitachi City, and in other prefectures, such as Saitama and Kanagawa.

While many people take themselves to the streets, the others appear to (at least vaguely) think that the nuclear disaster is ‘over.’ It is probably because the government and the mass media manipulate us by hiding the information, and also because the majority of those people who want to forget about all of this don’t take the environmental and food contamination seriously.

In December, Prime Minister Noda declared that the Fukushima accident came to an end. But considering those spreading health problems and food contamination caused by radiation, and those people in Fukushima who cannot return home, Noda is too irresponsible. The declaration means his abandoning of his responsibility. I’m furious, imagining that those who are involved in the nuclear industry are popping a champagne cork, and also afraid that in fact the people think the accident and contamination is ‘over’, accepting the authority’s story. People are increasingly divided between those who think things are ‘over’ and those who take the danger of the ongoing contamination and nuclear power plants seriously.

There is a hope, however. It appears that the grassroots movements including those demonstrations every week have become socially accepted. While some bystanders still dislike us, I feel that what we are doing has increasingly become recognized. The public is no longer as scornful as it was. It may be because they’ve got used to it, or because I’ve become strong, or because I’ve been toughened up so I’m no longer sensitive…I don’t know. Demonstrations are no longer means of some special people, but of those who have never taken themselves to the streets before, including mothers, fathers, and children. The ordinary people have reclaimed it as their means of political expression. So, there is a hope. I believe that direct political actions are the key for the people to reconnecting their lives and culture with politics. Facing the unprecedented disaster in human history, Japanese people are now tested – whether they can create a truly better way of living by their own hands. In this sense, 2012 is crucial. Keeping my hope alive still, I’ll face all the difficulties. Now I’m not alone. I have friends who are striving with me. Julia, you are one of them. RADIOACTIVISTS, created by Julia and Clarissa, will connect all of us who are against nuclear power plants. Thank you for your shooting this film. Thanks again.

By the way, since the exhibition called ‘Atomic Site’, which took place in August at Contemporary Art Factory in Tokyo, those artists have worked separately. In February they will reunite. I cannot wait for watching what those angry artists will bring up to then. I’ve recently started a collective activism called ‘Bohemian Punch’ with the friends I met at various anti-nuclear demonstrations since 3.11. It’s a sort of working group that creates flags, instruments, and performing arts in order to make our voice louder. This anti-nuclear movement has to last long, so I try not to get exhausted, but I’ll do whatever I can do. I’m looking forward to meeting more inspiring people.

Junko Harada, January 11, 2012

Remember, the first NO NUKES! ALLSTAR DEMO, organized by a huge and daily growing network of anti-nuclear groups in Japan, took place on September 19, 2011. With more than 60.000 participants and famous people appealing to the crowd like the writer and Nobel prize-winner Kenzaburo Oe, it was the biggest demonstration with the most attention paid to it, even by Japanese mass media, so far since 3/11.

In the video, you can see the crowd marching through Shibuya, one of the biggest and consumeristic part of Tokyo.In the end of the video, you’ll see the percussion group DRUMS OF FURY, that has taken part in the new anti-nuclear movement from the beginning in March 2011. Directed by the artist ILLCOMMONZ, the group uses nuclear waste bins to create a raging beat, playing with the imagery of ‘V for Vendetta’, showing their sympathy for the ongoing OCCUPY movement.

And another star was born on the day of the demonstration: FRYING DUTCHMAN, a Japanese rock band, performed their new protest song ‘HUMAN ERROR’ on stage. Even for those of you who can’t speak Japanese, you will feel the energy and rage behind hit; ‘Human Error’ with its accusatory lyrics goes straight to the heart, and makes you aware of all that went wrong around the whole Fukushima problematic.

If you prefer a good and profound article about the backgrounds of nuclear energy in Japan (written in English), then take a look at this article written by Cordula Meyer on Spiegel International. Take care and see you soon, we’ll keep you updated!

December 8th RADIOACTIVISTS will be screened in Vienna, Austria as part of the festival this human world. It will be screened at 6 p.m. in Topkino.

We are also happy to announce our first Berlin-screening:

It will take place Sunday December 11th, 6 p.m. in Moviemento cinema. We will be present for a Q&A-session after the film. This event is organized with the help and iniciative of BUND AK KLEE (Thank you so much!).

We hope we can soon announce more screenings!