The Danger of an Anti-Nuclear Ideologue Leading Japan — Energy Policy, Capacity Market, Plutonium Misrepresentation, and Political Manipulation
This chapter examines the political behavior and ideological motivations of Taro Kono, a long-time anti-nuclear activist whose policies and rhetoric threaten Japan’s national energy security. It analyzes his public statements, confrontational tactics, anti-nuclear lobbying activities, collaboration with NGOs and international pressure networks, and the role of NHK and foreign influence in shaping anti-nuclear narratives. The article highlights the crucial importance of nuclear energy, the capacity market, and Japan’s non-proliferation leadership—while warning that Kono’s approach could destabilize Japan’s energy future and international standing.

That is precisely why the “capacity market” is necessary, and why it cannot be abolished even if threatened by the amateur minister Kono.
(2021-09-27)
The following is an excerpt from the newly released issue of the monthly magazine WiLL, from the lead article of the special feature titled “The Sanae Takaichi Whirlwind,” written by Professor Naoto Narabayashi, Professor Emeritus at Hokkaido University.
I am quoting this section because during televised debates among LDP leadership candidates, I repeatedly heard Taro Kono confidently asserting that Japan’s nuclear fuel cycle contains enough plutonium to build six thousand nuclear warheads.
It became immediately obvious that he has barely read any of the work of Takayama Masayuki—the only truly exceptional journalist in the postwar world—yet has read plenty of Asahi Shimbun commentary.
This issue also contains an article by Dr. Kunihiko Takeda, titled “Has the Benevolent Doctor Disappeared? The System That Caused Hospital Bed Shortages.”
It contains a relevant point regarding Kono’s statements: “A lie is when someone knowingly states something different from truth. I never lie. Because I am a scientist.”
This genuine article proves that Taro Kono is either a liar or completely ignorant.
Either way, such a person running for Prime Minister is beyond outrageous.
He appears to believe that even lies or uninformed claims, if declared assertively, will sound like the truth—and make him appear decisive and bold.
Any LDP local members or party supporters who are still considering voting for Kono must reconsider immediately, if they truly love Japan.

Concealing COVID was wrong—Taro Kono is a radical anti-nuclear fundamentalist (Taliban).
Is such a destroyer of human knowledge suitable to serve as Prime Minister?
Kono’s power harassment scandal.

Prime Minister Suga has accomplished much during an extremely difficult year, and I would like to say “thank you” to him—but there is one point at which I believe his resignation may be fortunate.
Under his administration, the Sixth Basic Energy Plan for Japan’s next three decades was scheduled for Cabinet approval.
That plan has now collapsed.

Although it was Prime Minister Suga who announced the target of reducing greenhouse gases by 46% by 2030, his two closest lieutenants will remain in the administration.
Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Vaccine Minister Taro Kono.
I believe the 46% target is the direct cause of reducing the energy plan to an unrealistic fantasy.

Koizumi declared that the “46%” figure simply appeared in his mind—and then pressured Prime Minister Suga via public statements and meetings including one reportedly involving the Komeito leader Yamaguchi.
Meanwhile, Taro Kono has been rampaging.

Weekly Bunshun (September 9 issue) published a shocking exposé:
At an online government meeting on August 24, when representatives from the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy requested approval of the draft that stated renewable energy would be “36–38%,” Kono shouted:
“Not around that. More than that.
Bring someone who understands Japanese.”
It was a threat delivered in a harsh tone.
The officials he yelled at were Deputy Director-General Ryuji Yamashita and Director Nobuaki Ozawa.
Normally, his counterpart should have been METI Minister Kajiyama.

Kono bypassed proper authority because Cabinet approval requires unanimous consent.
If the expression “at least” was not accepted, the plan could not pass Cabinet.
So Kono tried to force approval through intimidation.

Will we see a dictatorship based on harassment?

Kono is now demanding that the words “capacity market” and “sustainable utilization of necessary nuclear power” be deleted from the draft.
If the capacity market disappears, does he understand what will occur?

When renewable energy supply rapidly falls—such as during thunderstorms—the Tokyo metropolitan region could instantly lose electricity equivalent to eight nuclear reactors (1 million kilowatts each).
Currently, a system exists in which thermal power plants can quickly boost output to prevent massive blackouts.
The capacity market guarantees funding for standby power, ensuring grid stability.
Eliminating it creates blackout risk.

Director Ozawa, who refused Kono’s demands, is an expert who coordinated emergency power deployment during the Hokkaido blackout following the eastern Iburi earthquake.
Blackouts cost lives and cause enormous economic damage—the Hokkaido blackout resulted in losses of 200 billion yen.
Therefore, the capacity market is essential—no matter how much Kono threatens.
Ozawa firmly stated: “I have consulted Minister Kajiyama. We cannot accept.”
Kono responded: “Then I won’t approve the Cabinet decision.”

This is the dangerous man polling as one of the top candidates for Prime Minister.

Kono’s anti-nuclear activism:
He has long been deeply connected to anti-nuclear groups.
In February 2017, a joint conference was held at the UN University by CNIC (Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center) and the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists.
Their agenda was to stop Japan’s nuclear fuel cycle and block the Rokkasho reprocessing plant.
Kono played a major role.

The conference issued a declaration urging reconsideration of Japan’s reprocessing plant from the perspective of global security and demanding a safe method to manage existing plutonium.
In September 2017, ND (New Diplomacy Initiative) and CNIC organized a U.S. lobbying delegation arguing that Japan’s plutonium stockpile posed international risk, amplified afterward by NHK’s Close-up Gendai episode titled:
“Japan, the Plutonium Superpower — The Spreading International Concern.”

Most Japanese—upon learning this—were surely horrified.
And they will be even more horrified to learn the next fact:
The secretary general of that lobbying effort was lawyer Sayo Saruta, partner of anti-nuclear activist lawyer Yuichi Kaido and a central operator of international pressure targeting Japan.
Her strategy: leverage U.S. Democratic politicians and nuclear non-proliferation activists to manufacture the narrative that “Japan’s plutonium stockpile threatens world peace.”
Then, using U.S. voices as leverage, pressure the Japanese government.
We call this method the “Washington Loudspeaker.”
And the final loudspeaker is NHK.

With that loudspeaker, then-Foreign Minister Kono declared to the IAEA that Japan would reduce plutonium—effectively creating a new Kono Statement parallel to the 1993 Kono Statement on comfort women.
His father’s statement damaged Japan—and now the son has repeated history regarding nuclear policy.

But Japan’s plutonium cannot be used for weapons.
Unlike weapons-grade plutonium from graphite or heavy-water reactors, Japan’s reactor-grade plutonium contains impurities and unstable isotopes, making it unsuitable for nuclear arms.
No nuclear state uses such plutonium for weapons.
This accusation is baseless.

Japan is recognized internationally as a model state in nuclear non-proliferation.
IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei confirmed this in 2004.
Yet the new Kono declaration severely restricts reprocessing—and jeopardizes Japan’s carbon-neutral future.

Fast reactors that burn high-level waste represent scientific advancement—and human wisdom.

So, is Kono fit to lead Japan?
His book “Move Japan Forward” glorifies renewables and attacks nuclear power, while openly stating:
“If I had the authority of Prime Minister, I could stop the reprocessing plant.”
He has already said on television that he would stop operation of the reprocessing facility in Aomori Prefecture.
This would force shutdowns of all nuclear reactors once spent fuel storage reaches capacity.

His agenda is unmistakable.
An anti-nuclear ideological fundamentalist—like a policy Taliban—cannot be entrusted with Japan’s future.