Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: This morning a plenary session of the House of Councillors was convened. Relating to a question that was asked in this morning's press conference to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Saito, I would like to provide a report on the current status of the Unit 2 reactor of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). With regard to the possibility that xenon has been detected at the Unit 2 reactor, this morning shortly after 7:00am, a first report was made by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) to the Prime Minister's Office. NISA was contacted by TEPCO late at night yesterday and it was reported that provisional readings for quantities of xenon detected were very close to the detection threshold, and given the fact that the quantities involved were extremely small and did not present an immediate threat according to plant data, including temperature and pressure, etc., it was decided that TEPCO would engage in further detailed surveys of the reactor and report back to the Prime Minister's Office and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry this morning. However, given that the highest priority is to engage in efforts to bring the accident to a conclusion, and in light of information suggesting a possibility that a nuclear fission reaction may be occurring, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Edano warned the Director General of NISA that information should be provided expeditiously. With regard to what is happening on site, according to current surveys there is no new information to report to you since this morning, when Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Saito responded to your questions.

Q&As

(Abridged)