The Inter Faith Forum for the Review of National Nuclear Policy:
The Forum 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. Begun in 1993, its main purpose has been to rethink the political background of Japan’s nuclear policy. 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. One of the leaders of the forum is JNEB founding member Rev. Hidehito Okochi, a leader in creating sustainable economics and lifestyles from his Juko-in Temple and Edogawa Citizen’s Network in Tokyo. For more on their activities and viewpoints, click on the link above.
The Buddhist Anti-Nuclear Protest Movement in Japan:
- In the Aftermath of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake: We call for the reversal of policies returning to nuclear power 諫言：原発回帰政策の撤回と全国の原発を廃止することを求めますJanuary 18, 2024
- We are firmly opposed to the discharge of radioactive “ALPS treated water” into the Pacific Ocean! 声明 放射能汚染水(｢ALPS処理水｣)海洋放出に断固反対します July 3, 2023
- Religious Leaders Team Up in Court to Suspend Operations at Japan’s Major Nuclear Reprocessing Plant (March 17, 2020)
- International Project on Energy: Learning from Fukushima & the Suffering Caused by Nuclear Energy (2015 –> )
- Requesting a Radical Review of the United States-Japan Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (April 19, 2017)
- After the Paris-Agreement: Corporate Meltdown in the Nuclear Industry by Mycle Schneider, Convening Lead Author and Publisher of the World Nuclear Industry Status Report. (April 14, 2016)
- The Dhammayatra of Life 2015 bearing witness to the suffering caused by nuclear energy in Japan and creating solidarity with the communities around Japan’s nuclear power plants (March 5-August 9, 2015)
- Court Rules Against Oi Reactor Restarts: Rev. Tetsuen Nakajima, a Shingon priest in Fukui and leader in the Interfaith Forum for the Review of National Nuclear Policy, 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)
- The Dhammayatra of Life 2014 (bearing witness to the suffering caused by nuclear energy in Japan and creating solidarity with the communities around Japan’s nuclear power plants)
- From Fukushima to Hiroshima … and in between: On the Road with the Dhammayatra of Life 2013 by Jonathan Watts (August 2013)
- Which Way to Peace? Part II: Japanese Buddhists’ Increasing Involvement in Anti-Nuclear Activism by Jonathan Watts (July 2, 2012)
- Which Way to Peace? Part I: The Role of Japanese Buddhism in Anti-Nuclear Civil Protest by Jonathan Watts (December, 2011)
- The Protest Movement in 2011 & 2012
- The Nipponzan Myohoji Peace Pagoda was the first Buddhist denomination to create a major public campaign to roll back the use of nuclear power in Japan.
Voices from Fukushima:
Buddhist priests and temple followers have worked selflessly for supporting their community members and trying to rebuild their areas in the wake of the disaster.
The Real Meaning of Recovery (fukko): Fukushima Citizens Raise Voices about Their Ongoing Pain while Building Their Own New Society October 20-23, 2023
From the volume Lotus in the Nuclear Sea: Fukushima and the Promise of Buddhism in the Nuclear Age
- Security for Sentient Beings: A Mother Works to Protect Children’s Health and Ensure Food Safety – Katsuko Arima
- Exposing the Hidden Dukkha (Disease) of Nuclear Energy: A Buddhist Priest Devoted to Children and Mothers– Rev. Michinori Sasaki
- An Evacuated People Work for a “Genuine” Future – Masuo Nagasho
- Maintaining a Vigil and Hope inside the Nuclear Exclusion Zone – Rev. Junsho Shirae
- Caring for the Souls of the Dead and the Living from the Triple Disaster – Rev. Taikan Hoshimi
- Broken Families, Broken Health: Two Grandmothers Speak of the Ongoing Effects of Evacuation – Shizuko Watanabe & Keiko Takahashi
- Awakening to the Secrets of a Nuclear Society and Building a Citizen’s Radiation Monitoring System – Katsuhide Sakurai & Yoichi Ozawa
- The Unsurpassed Wisdom of Enlightenment and the Right to Life of Cattle – Takumi Sakamoto
- Rebuilding Family, Community, Region, and Nation amidst Nuclear Fallout – Rev. Toku-un Tanaka
Other Articles:
- Regional Debates: Niigata Prefecture – Towards a Clear Course of Action Concerning the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Complex (Niigata Nippo January 1, 2013)
- My Struggle to Revive the Cultural and Natural Heritage of Soma in Fukushima by Rev. Toku-un Tanaka (January 17, 2012)
- Sunflowers Melt Fukushima’s Nuclear “Snow” [Rinzai Zen Priest, Rev. Koyu Abe, Leads Reclamation of Environment] (Reuters August 21, 2011)
International Buddhist Voices on Fukushima:
- The Promise of Buddhism in the Nuclear Age: Guardianship of Life on Earth by Joanna Macy (November 2013)
- The Three Nuclear Poisons by David R. Loy (November 2013)
- Fukushima and the Specter of Nuclear Power in South Asia by Harsha Navaratne (November 2013)
- Care, Conscientization, and Mobilization: What Buddhist Monks Can Contribute to the Nuclear Issue by Ven. Paisan Visalo (November 2013)
- Thinking about Natural Disasters and Religion: In Search of an Alternative Way of Life by A. T. Ariyaratne (October 10, 2012)
- No More Back to Business as Usual: A Socially Engaged Buddhist Approach to Making a Post 3/11 Society in Japan by Sulak Sivaraksa (July 26, 2011)
Declarations & Symposia Concerning Nuclear Power:
- Conference in Frankfurt, Germany: The “Energy Shift” – What Can Religious Groups Contribute? hosted by the Center for Ecumenical Work of the Protestant Church of Hesse and Nassau (March 3-6, 2015) papers in English, Japanese, and German
- World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) Conference on Revitalization in Fukushima Creates Heap of Issues(May 13-14, 2013)
- Japan Buddhist Federation Symposium on Promoting Health Rehabilitation, Ensuring the Rights of Refugees, and Overcoming a Confused Understanding of the Separation between Church and State (March 8, 2013)
- Taitsu Kono Questions National Culture at Symposium on Disasters and Nuclear Power (February 16, 2013)
- 2013 New Year’s Message Communicating to the World the Tragedy of the Nuclear Incident by Rev. Masazumi Shojun Okano
- Statement on Nuclear Energy by the International Network of Engaged Buddhists:Affirming the Value of Life and Working towards Interdependent Lifestyles (November 10, 2012)
- Nuclear Power Is Incompatible with the Way of the Buddha (Rev. Taitsu Kono) (June 24, 2012)
- Buddhist federation speaks out against nuclear power and war responsibility (interview with Rev. Taitsu Kono Asahi Shimbun) (March 21, 2012)
- Anti-Nuke Declarations & Actions Build in Buddhist World (December 12, 2011)
- Japan Buddhist Federation Declaration on Nuclear Power (December 1, 2011)
- Symposium on Buddhism and Nuclear Power at Soto Zen’s main temple Eiheiji (November 3, 2011)
- Nipponzan Myohoji Peace Pagoda’s Statement on Nuclear Energy (March 20, 2011)
Questioning the Nuclear Accident: The Future and Religion:
This is a 7 part series of editorials by Buddhist priests and laypeople long involved in the anti-nuclear movement that was published in the Bukkyo (Buddhist) Times in June and July, 2011.
- #1: The 3 Structures of Discrimination: Rural Regions, Nuclear Contaminated Work, Children by Rev. Tetsuen Nakajima (June 2)
- #2: Shouldn’t Infants Be Given Priority for Shelter?: The Situation of the Weak Having Their Lives Exposed to Danger by Rev. Kanjo Umemori (June 9)
- #3: The Insecurity of Confronting the Antiquated Nuclear Power System: Towards the Next Generation of Energy in “Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma” by Tatsuhiko Yajima (June 16)
- #4: Let’s Deeply Consider Things from the Side of Suffering: The State of Society Can be Changed by Rev. Hidehito Okochi (June 23)
- #5: Towards a Nation Founded on Natural Energy: Religion Has a Role in Controlling Greed by Mutsuji Yamaoka (July 7)
- #6: Driving the Ecosystem towards Malfunction: Emergency Evacuation for Pregnant Women and Children by Taeko Kansha (July 14)
- #7: Taking Responsibility for Looking Away: The Increasing Anxiety over the Rokkashomura Atomic Fuel Facilities by Rev. Jogaku Fukuzawa (July 21)
- Conclusion: Stopping the Vicious Cycle: What Now for the People Gasping in Suffering? by the Editors (July 28)
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