Special Lecture by Professor Ikuro Anzai “The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident and Life – Thinking about the Ethics of Scholars and Researchers” (co-sponsored by the Japan Association for Bioethics) on October 28, 2012

Event overview

On October 27th (Sat.) and 28th (Sun.) the Japan Association for Bioethics will hold its 24th general meeting at Igakukan Hall on Ritsumeikan University's Kinugasa Campus. The theme of this year's meeting will be “Survival and Bioethics”. During this event, a special lecture by one of this University's most renowned professors, IkurouAnzai, will be presented on the 28th of October by the Research Center for Ars Vivendi in cooperation with the Japan Association for Bioethics.

Lecture overview

Fifty years ago, I was one of the first students of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tokyo. Part of our training included observing how mice exposed to a fatal dose of radiation were injured and died, and we were then asked to put together reports on what we found during their dissection. We were forced to learn how radiation beyond what we can perceive with our own senses can take a life. My graduation thesis was “Research on the prevention of disasters of nuclear reactor facilities”, and I leaned heavily on my supervisor, a professor with a farsighted awareness of these issues.

In the 1960s, many life-deprecating phenomena accompanied the Vietnam war and rapid economic growth; it was an era in which the social responsibility of academics, engineers, corporations, the state, and other elements of society was called into question. I joined the Japan Scientists' Association, established in 1965 with the aim of “autonomous, democratic, comprehensive scientific development”, and in being responsible for nuclear power related activities cultivated an interest in all relevant domains – politics, economics, culture, society, science, and technology. I was also thoroughly tested and shaped by my interactions with local residents at speaking events in areas being considered for the establishment of nuclear power plants. All of this acquired knowledge and understanding was brought together in a keynote speech I delivered at the Science Council of Japan's first symposium on nuclear power generation. I criticized all aspects of Japan's nuclear power policyon the basis of “six evaluation criteria” ((1) energy development autonomy, (2) rejection of the prioritization of economic development.(3) preventing diversion to the military, (4) emphasizing local development, (5) positive guaranteeing of resident and worker safety, and (6) democratic administration of nuclear power). In 1973 I presented this policy criticism at the Japanese House of Representative's Special Sub-committee for the Promotion of Science and Technology and the first public hearings on nuclear power to allow for the participation of local residents. In 1974 I strongly criticized national nuclear power policies concerning fabricated radiation monitoring data for American nuclear submarines calling at Japanese ports and an incident involving the nuclear powered vessel “Mutsu”. While I was myself a civil servant, in all of these cases it was difficult for me to be loyal to the science and to the state at the same time. In the context of nuclear power being pursued as a national policy I experienced various forms of harassment, including disregard, intimidation, surveillance, discrimination and attempts at dissuasion. In Genpatsu to kankyo [Nuclear power and the environment] (Daimondosha, 1975) I gave an overview of life as an expert on nuclear radiation protection.

Through activities aimed at supporting survivors of atomic bombs and the abolishment of nuclear weapons, in the 1980s I learnt about the activism of academics addressing this “earth-sized issue” from people such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Joseph Rotblat.

After moving to Ritsumeikan University in 1986, I had several experiences that led me to think about the ethics of scholars and researchers. The first experience was about modern anti-rationalist movements including “AumShinrikyo” (I was then criticized for being a leading critic of so-called “supernatural power” in “Vajrayana Sacca”, a journal published by this organization).The second case was experienced in my activities as a scientist giving testimonies in the trials concerning causality of radiation injuries of the A-bomb survivors. The third concerned my work asthe director of Kyoto Museum for World Peace at Ritsumeikan University, including the organizing special exhibitions such as “The Value of Human Beings” (an exhibition focusing on experiments conducted on human beings by Germany and Japan during the World War 2). The fourth is about my activities regarding the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in which I must continue to ask myself to be faithful to the principle “not to hide, not to lie, or not to intentionally underestimate.” My difficult struggle as a scientist to realize the potential for human life continues.

Contact information for inquiries about this event

Japan Association for Bioethics 24th General Meeting Administrative Office
C/O Ristumeikan University Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences
〒603-8577 Toujiinkitamachi 56-1, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi
Email：jab2012@gst.ritsumei.ac.jp

*There is no parking available at the venue, so please use public transportation.