A large majority of Japanese citizens now want the proportion of nuclear power in the national mix to be decreased or phased out in future.
Nearly three quarters of Japanese citizens polled in March by the newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun have called for the proportion of nuclear power in Japan to be decreased or phased out in future.
One fifth of the 1500 residents polled voted for nuclear power to be abolished, according to data published by the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF). Just over half (53%) voted for Japan to decrease its share of nuclear power, with 18% calling for the status quo to be maintained and a mere 4% for the nuclear share to increase.
The figures indicate that the Japanese public are becoming increasingly opposed to nuclear, which supplied around 30% of Japan’s electricity prior to the Fukushima accident in March 2011. In an April 2011poll conducted by the same newspaper, the majority (56%) of residents voted for Japan to increase or maintain its nuclear share while only 29% wanted it to decrease, 12% wanted it abolished.
The March survey also revealed that many people are concerned about radioactivity resulting from the Fukushima accident. Just under 30% said they are "very worried" about radioactivity affecting their heath or the health of their family. Almost a quarter said that they are "very worried" about the economic effects of the prolonged shutdown of Japanese nuclear power plants.