The Nuclear Mafia Derails Democracy in JapanEnd of the day, factory whistle cries, Men walk through these gates with death in their eyes. Bruce Springsteen, Factory (1) Bring us the living dead. People no one will miss. Fukushima officials request to Yakuza (2) TEPCOs involvement with anti-social forces and their inability to filter them out of the work-place is a national security issue Nuclear energy shouldnt be in the hands of the yakuza. Theyre gamblers and an intelligent person doesnt want them to have atomic dice to play with. Japanese Senator (3) The technological issue of nuclear energy is intertwined with the exploitation of human labor in a hierarchy of interests, and how human labor is expended is an economic and moral issue. The Grand Scientific Project from the time of Francis Bacon up to the Manhattan Project of Oppenheimer and Fermi has been a dangerous gamble for humanity even though the advertised purpose is that progress is good. The exploitation of labor at nuclear plants depends on the tools of social engineering, of government, mass media and schools. This is the hidden and shameful side of todays materialist society and belies our complicity in a criminalized culture. Inefficient and corrupt employment practices at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) are prolonging the disaster. Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) outsources 90 percent of the work to subcontractors, mainly utilizing Japans criminal syndicates, the Yakuza. Japan is still a middle-class society and most people will not volunteer for nuclear work. Japan risks running out of workers who have not exceeded their legal radiation limits. Considered to be Japans largest organized crime group who are on the radar of the US Treasury Dept. (another big crime group) (4) the Yakuza offer a service to society by sopping up its losers and giving them a dodgy occupation. A senior National Police Agency officer, speaking on grounds of anonymity said, TEPCO has a history of doing business with the yakuza that is far deeper than just using their labor (Op. cit. The Yakuza and the Nuclear Mafia). Adelstein notes that the Yakuza has 86,000 members in Japan, of the 22 major organizations the Yamaguchi has almost half of all members. The Yakuza are: [c]riminal trade associations legally recognized by the Japanese government They exist out in the open. The Japanese government regulates them and there are laws restricting their behavior but as criminal organizations themselves they are not banned. It is very difficult for the police to do an investigation that goes all the way up to the top. Its problems within the Japanese law itself. Theres no plea bargaining, very limited wire tapping, no witness protection program no undercover work allowed. The Japanese police are never able to destroy the Yakuza (Op. cit. interviews). [T]he nuclear business-industrial-political and media complex in Japan known as the nuclear mafia [the nuclear industry] is a black hole of criminal malfeasance, incompetence, and corruption . The government tacitly recognises their existence, and they are classified, designated and regulated. Yakuza make their money from extortion, blackmail, construction, real estate, collection services, financial market manipulation, protection rackets, fraud and a labyrinth of front companies including labour dispatch services and private detective agencies. They do the work that no one else will do or find the workers for jobs no one wants . The Fukushima plant is located in the turf of the Sumiyoshi-kai, which is the second largest yakuza group in Japan with roughly 12,000 members (Op. cit. How the Yakuza went Nuclear; The Yakuza). Without the dregs of society to do the dirty work, modern society could not exist its present, most hypocritical form. Most people do not want to get dirt under their fingernails and prefer to apply nail polish or chat on their iPhones. Working in nuclear power plants in Japan is not considered an honorable and elegant trade, like cabinet making or industrial design, but a brutal, labor intensive experience. While the Yakuza organization itself is an evil, the workers themselves can be considered heroes. The amount of excruciating heat, hard work, physical and mental stress and radiation they endure is inhuman. Even working at a normally functioning reactor is not easy or safe work but the FNPP is highly radioactive. Fearless Reporter Tells All Adelstein reviews an astounding new book, The Yakuza and the Nuclear Industry, by undercover Japanese reporter, Tomohiko Suzuki (Op. cit. The Yakuza). Suzuki truly risked his life, due to radiation exposure and possible threats, to bring us the details from the Nuclear Hell Zone. The book reveals scandalous information such as that mentally handicapped people are recruited to work in the nuke plants by the Yakuza. Suzuki compares the Yakuza with Tepco: Yakuza may be a plague on society but they dont ruin the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and irradiate the planet out of sheer greed and incompetence. Having lived in Tokyo for many years, I concur. I am not a fan of Yakuza culture and can see in my daily experience that the Yakuza have a degrading effect on society. But as long as you dont mess with them they wont mess with you. In this way, the streets of Tokyo remain fairly safe. Suzuki points out that Japans nuclear mafia [is a] conglomeration of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, the shady nuclear industry, their lobbyists with the Yakuza at the center. Is Suzuki implying that the Yakuza run the Nuclear Mafia? It is certainly true that Tepco could not fulfill a nuclear workforce without them. According to Adelstein: As the scale of the catastrophe at Fukushima became apparent, many workers fled the scene. To contain the nuclear meltdown, a handful of workers stayed behind, being exposed to large amounts of radiation: the so-called Fukushima Fifty. Among this heroic group, according to Suzuki, were several members of the yakuza . Almost all nuclear power plants that are built in Japan are built taking the risk that the workers may well be exposed to large amounts of radiation . That they will get sick, they will die early, or they will die on the job. And the people bringing the workers to the plants and also doing the construction are often yakuza (Op. cit. How the Yakuza). The very workers who are attempting to shore up the situation at FNPP, many of whom are Yakuza, are being blamed by local people in Fukushima for the disaster. A recent survey reported that 30 percent of 1,495 workers at the site suffer from severe mental health issues. The survey does not even include the most exploited workers at the site (7). Nuclear Situation Deteriorating Akio Matsumura is a renowned Japanese diplomat and founder and Secretary General of the Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders on Human Survival. He sounds like the right man for the job to tackle the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Unfortunately, his warnings are falling on deaf ears. In a recent column he reported that the Skilled Veterans Corps for Fukushima, along with 700 members, want to help clean up the FNPP. Most of the volunteers are in their older years so getting cancer is not as great of a threat, whereas younger workers could die prematurely. The groups representative, Mr. Yamada, doesnt believe TEPCO has the technological capabilities to deal with the long term issues. TEPCO, he says, doesnt believe this either. TEPCOs plan, according to Yamada, is to contain the radiation in the next 40 years. He estimates they will need 50 years or perhaps much longer. Matsumura thinks more aggressive actions wont be taken: Regrettably I do not expect much of an outcome. After 17 months, the situation is worsening and unless Japan requests the independent assessment team and guarantees a huge budget to carry out the teams technical advice, the US government will not step in to help (8). US nuclear policy is equally dangerous; thus, a safe and speedy resolution to what appears to be an insurmountable problem is not on the horizon. Tony Boys worked as an interpreter for nuclear expert, Dr. Chris Busby, on his visit to Japan last year. Boys told me: They may be rebuilding at the FNPP, but I dont think that solves the fundamental problem. You know how the Japanese love to do something cosmetic to make things look good because they dont know how to really do it properly, but have to do something ? Well, I think thats largely what is going on at the site. Radio host, Jeff Rense, whose website has studiously reported on the nuclear catastrophe and all of Japans botched policies, told me that everything they do is horrendous. For example, Japans decision to ship contaminated Fukushima soil all the way across the country is truly stupefying (9). Prime Minister Noda recently rejected protesters requests to shut down the nuclear reactors. As the Metropolitan Coalition Against Nukes told Noda in a face to face meeting, [w]e the people do not believe you regarding his empty promises to phase out nukes in the future. The Nuclear Mafia are restarting reactors even though they are unnecessary for electricity production. An overwhelming majority of people want to abolish nuclear power (10; 11; 12). Having contaminated the world with quadrillions of becquerels of radiation (petabecquerels), Tepco is under a pseudo nationalization process that funnels tax money into their pockets yet maintains their autonomy (13). Worker Shortage A common practice among workers in nuclear plants is to hide their real exposure rate of radiation. Because there are legal limits of radiation exposure, workers will take off their dosimeters, or cover them with lead. In normal times in Japan workers could also migrate from one plant to the other without indicating previous work experience, and work under the table. How long it takes to get sick and or die from such a practice is anyones guess. If the living dead, the people no one will miss and the dregs of society cant be coerced into sacrificing themselves, how about top Tepco executives or pro-nuclear professors from Tokyo University for a helping hand? Good idea! But first you will have to chase them down on the golf course. NHK reports that: [M]any workers crucial to the effort are reaching the limit for radiation exposure . University of Tokyo Professor Kazumitsu Nawata warns of the consequences of losing nuclear plant workers with necessary expertise. He says young workers must be trained due to the need for massive manpower to fully bring the Daiichi plant under control. Is Professor Nawata volunteering others children for this dirty job, or maybe his own children would prefer to work in the High Sievert Zone? Tokyo University bears a heavy responsibility for the current catastrophe for its role in legitimizing the Nuclear Mafia. A notable percentage of workers are leaving once they have reached the legal radiation limits. Of the 3,000 daily workers, [s]ome of the firms have adopted stricter exposure standards so that they do not breach the limit and become unemployable (14). A number of recent incidents have highlighted the scandal over worker safety, including: Former General Electric nuclear plant inspector, a whistleblower who previously exposed dangers at the Fukushima plant that were ignored Kei Sugaoka, admitted that he had heard of young workers in the Taiwan nuclear industry dying from cancer due to radiation. When he worked in Taiwan he says [t]hey made us wear lead vests to falsify radiation exposure All the lead did was cover our dosimeters (21). Despite the need to quickly resolve the situation, workers are given weekends off, but are also being recruited for decontamination in the 20 km zone. Speculation is that restart of other reactors in Japan will worsen the worker shortage. Japan seems to be going in too many directions at once (22; 23; 24). The Nuclear Workforce French sociologist, Paul Jobin, began research on Japanese and Taiwanese nuclear plant workers in 2002, mainly at Fukushima Daiichi, and he did follow up interviews after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. Jobin notes that: Worker Rights Advocates Fight For Social Justice Hifumi Okunuki is an expert in labor law and spends much of her time fighting for the rights of Fukushimas forgotten heroes. She notes that the working conditions at Fukushima No. 1 are an emergency within an emergency and that special laws should be promulgated to guarantee the safety and fair treatment of the workers. Japans Labor Standards Office has thus far recognized only 10 cases of radiation sickness caused by working conditions due to the inherent difficulty in proving causation in individual cases . Management faces quite serious, possibly criminal, liability if while understanding the risk radiation exposure poses, they endanger those working on-site through a complicated web of outsourcing. Article 87 of the Labor Standards Law holds firms that outsource responsible for workplace safety and sanitation for workers employed by their subcontractor . Illnesses caused by radiation exposure from nuclear power plants are covered by Japans Act on Compensation for Nuclear Damage. Unsurprisingly, the Japanese justice system which plays an integral role in siding with the Nuclear Mafia has yet to see a major court case over radiation-related deaths (29). A new report from the venerable non governmental organization, Citizens Nuclear Information Center (CNIC), in Tokyo, highlights the FNPP worker issue. One whistle blower reported that in years past: Worker accidents are usually covered up inside the nuclear plant. Even if workers suddenly fall ill, they are not allowed to call an ambulance. In my case, after having been left unattended for three hours, I was taken to hospital in a colleagues car. I therefore suffered aftereffects later and became physically handicapped. Of all accidents occurring in the nuclear power station, 90% were concealed. However, thanks to growing international attention, some of the conditions at FNPP have slightly improved. Currently, ambulances are allowed to come into the nuclear power station and there is a doctor onsite 24 hrs a day (30). Tepcos Blind Eye According to CNIC (Ibid.), the system for employing nuclear workers relies on an economically pyramid shaped, multi-layered structure of contractors and subcontractors which makes profits for executives and employees. Investigations have revealed the [p]resence of subcontractors affiliated with crime syndicates and their employees. In the year 2000 it was known that 350 companies were involved at the FNPP and that many of the Yakuza employees or subcontractors are presently involved in the clean up operations. In other words, its an economic racket. Although an effective system, [i]llegal acts, such as the forgery of health reports and not allowing workers to subscribe to health insurance and employees pension plans, are rampant, but are tolerated by Tepco. This draws into question how effective such workers can be given the intimidation of violence from Yakuza bosses and the poor working conditions. The problem is still beyond TEPCOs control because the subcontractor system is deeply multi-layered and complex, and because the yakuza are so deeply entrenched in the system. Destroying Democracy The 1995 documentary film, Nuclear Ginza, is valuable for its historical perspective on nuclear workers in Japan (31). Corruption, payoffs and coverups were the norm, then and now. As one worker whose health was damaged said, The big companies treat workers like objects or tools to be thrown away when no longer needed. Japan is considered a rich advanced and democratic country but its just an illusion I think. A Buddhist monk, Mr. Nakajima, who had worked for years to help the plight of workers noted that [u]nfortunately in Japan, the sad reality is that democracy has been destroyed in the areas where nuclear power exists. Streets Of Fire Adelstein and Suzuki (Op. cit.) supply additional information of a particularly lurid and grim nature: Conclusion Faced with an ongoing radioactive nightmare which is contaminating Japans food and water supply, what should be done? The Nuclear Mafias ethos is silken sewn into the socio-political Kabuki theater of a post-modern Japanese society, which seems helpless to save itself. Maybe Ambassador Matsumura, with his international political connections of good will, and the Skilled Veterans for Fukushima would be good people to turn to for advice. You can support this information by voting on Reddit HERE 1. Factory 2. How the Yakuza went nuclear http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-in/9084151/How-the-Yakuza-went-nuclear.html 3. The Yakuza and the Nuclear Mafia 4. U.S. Treasury Dept. Penalizes Japans Largest Organized-Crime Group 5. Jake Adelstein 6. Jake Adelstein on Tokyos yakuza 7. No. 1 workers stress, stigma jeopardizing motivation 8. Fukushima Needs a Hero 9. Kagoshima to be the final disposal site of nuclear waste 10. Noda unswayed by talks with rally leaders 11. Power use falls; reactors unneeded 12. Antinuclear Japan: Nearly 90% of Public Comments on National Energy Policy Are Zero Nuke 13. Mismanaging Risk and the Fukushima Nuclear Crisis 14. Fukushima nuclear workers reaching exposure limit 15. Worker left integral dosimeter in the bus on purpose 16. WSJ: Experts say manipulated radiation readings http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2012/07/23/fukushima-watch-doctoring-dosimeters-how-far-did-it-go/ 17. Fukushima worker Human-wave tactics will be needed, problem is if they can collect human workers 18. Tepco knew lead shields were made to cover dosimeters of Fukushima workers 19. TEPCO subcontractor used lead to fake dosimeter readings at Fukushima plant 20. Growing concern over worker shortages at Fukushima Daiichi by govthttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443570904577542400362861824.html 21. Nuclear Worker: Theres been some people dying, young guys, of some weird cancers 22. Worker confirms Tepco taking weekends off at Fukushima Daiichi 23. Recruit for decontamination worker in 20km area 24. Fukushima worker Restart of nuclear plants will cause shortage of Fukushima workers 25. Dying for TEPCO? Fukushimas Nuclear Contract Workers 26. Fukushima One Year On: Nuclear workers and citizens at risk 27. Japan Nuclear Professor Atomic Age Symposium II 28. Fukushima Plant Worker Suffers Cardiac Arrest 29. Tepco liable for contract workers safety in Fukushima 30. Clean-up operation at the nuclear accident site at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. 31. Nuclear Ginza Part 1 32. Radioactive Rats, Nuclear Techno Geeks And Life In The Damage Control Continuum 33. Japans Tepco baffled by criticism of its role in nuclear disaster Richard Wilcox has a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from a social science, holistic perspective. He teaches part time at a number of universities in the Tokyo, Japan area. His articles on environmental topics including the Fukushima nuclear disaster have been published at Counterpunch, Global Research, Dissident Voice and Rense.com. His interview with Jeff Rense is available at the website www.rense.com. Many of his articles are archived here:http://environmentalarmageddon.wordpress.com/?s=Richard+Wilcox 