日本語：原子力行政を問い直す宗教者の会
The Interfaith Forum for Review of National Nuclear Policy is a network of religious professionals (Buddhist, Christians and Shinto priests) from all parts of Japan working on anti-nuclear activities with 40 core representatives and over 800s members. Formally initiated in 1993, its main purpose has been to rethink the political background of Japan’s nuclear policy.
The Forum initially developed out of the efforts of Rev. Kaisho Kugimiya of the Nipponzan Myohoji Order. As common in this order, he was pilgrimaging around the country chanting the Lotus Sutra and calling on religious professionals to become more socially engaged. From April 6-8, 1992, he convened the first national meeting of anti-nuclear religious professionals scattered throughout the country in Kyoto. This was around the time that the Monju fast breeder reactor, named after the Buddhist bodhisattva Manjusri, was scheduled to achieve criticality. In response, the Forum created an October Action, gathering 70 individuals and over 300 endorsements, to meet in Tokyo and participate in “dialogue” and “protest” inquiries with government officials from the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy and the Agency of Science and Technology.
Since the earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear disasters of March 11, 2011, the Forum has provided emergency evacuation housing in temples and churches for children and pregnant mothers in the areas around the Fukushima nuclear power plants. While the Forum is today still relatively small in numbers, it consists of some of the most important anti-nuclear religious activists in the nation, such at Rev. Tetsuen Nakajima and Rev. Hidehito Okochi.
Activities since 3/11:
- Offer for Mid- and Long-term Evacuation to Safer Areas (April 10, 2011)
- Protecting Community and Sentient Life: Fukushima National Meeting (April 26, 2012)
- Religious Leaders Call on Higher Power against Oi Plant Restart (May 30, 2012)
- Fukushima’s Children Get Hang Out Time in Hokkaido (summer 2011-13)
- Requesting a Radical Review of the United States-Japan Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (April 19, 2017)
- Religious Leaders Team Up in Court to Suspend Operations at Japan’s Major Nuclear Reprocessing Plant (March 17, 2020)
- We are firmly opposed to the discharge of radioactive “ALPS treated water” into the Pacific Ocean! (July 3, 2023)
Articles and Editorials by members:
Rev. Tetsuen Nakajima (founding member)
- A Priest’s Work Amidst the Nuclear Ginza (a profile of his work)
- The 3 Structures of Discrimination: Rural Regions, Nuclear Contaminated Work, Children (June 2, 2011)
- Japan must thoroughly re-examine nuclear energy policy (June 15, 2012 Asahi Shimbun)
- Court Rules Against Oi Reactor Restarts: Rev. Tetsuen Nakajima speaks (video) for the citizens group that successfully fought in court the move for a second restart of the two reactors at Oi Nuclear Complex–the only ones that had been brought on line after the Fukushima incident. (May 21, 2014)
- For the Benefit of Self, the Benefit of Other, and the Perfection of the Two: Why Buddhists Should Be Concerned about Nuclear Energy (also available in print in Lotus in the Nuclear Sea)
- Rebuilding Human Bonds amidst Japan’s Disconnected Society: A Buddhist Path through Rural Decline, Migrant Laborers, Poverty & Homelessness (October 13, 2020)
Rev. Hidehito Okochi (founding member & co-director)
- Shift the Power: Building a Buddhist Temple Community as a Mechanism for Environmental and Social Change (November 2, 2018) Updated from “A Futuristic Priest whose Time Has Arrived”
- Kenju-in: An Eco-Temple Protecting Forests and Building Health and Longevity through Everyone’s Energy (February 2014)
- Deconstructing the Myths of Nuclear Energy and Building a Pure Land without Nuclear or Military Presence (also available in print in Lotus in the Nuclear Sea November 2013)
- A Futuristic Priest whose Time Has Arrived (a profile of his work from March 2012 also available in print in This Precious Life)
- The Citizen’s Strategy for Creating a New World (detailed profile of Juko-in Temple community activities from 2002)
- Let’s Deeply Consider Things from the Side of Suffering:The State of Society Can be Changed (Part IV of Questioning the Nuclear Accident) June 13, 2011
Rev. Hiroaki Osada (founding member & co-director)
- “Anti-Nukes” Remains Fixed on Life (a profile of his work)
- Nuclear Energy Is Actually the Establishment of Self – Rev. Hiroaki Osada
Other Members
- Shouldn’t Infants Be Given Priority for Shelter?: The Situation of the Weak Having Their Lives Exposed to Danger – Rev. Kanjo Umemori (June 9, 2011)
- Taking Responsibility for Looking Away: The Increasing Anxiety over the Rokkashomura Atomic Fuel Facilities – Rev. Jogaku Fukuzawa (July 21, 2011)
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