Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held the first meeting of the Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Council at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on the procedures of the Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Council meetings (draft) and the appointment of the Executive Secretaries of the Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Council Executive Secretary Meeting. Then, there were reports on the status of consideration for and direction of a Nuclear Disaster Countermeasures Guideline, and the status of consideration for a Manual for the Nuclear Disaster Countermeasures and a Manual for the Preparation of the Regional Disaster Prevention Plan (on Nuclear Disaster Countermeasures).

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

"Regarding nuclear energy, we must ensure safety and pursue unceasingly the effort to further improve safety. Consequently, the Nuclear Regulatory Committee was inaugurated last month, and fundamental review of the safety regulation is currently under way.
In addition, it is also important to establish a disaster prevention system beyond the borders of ministries and agencies by thoroughly assuming the worst scenario such as the occurrence of accidents without relying on the myth of safety.
This Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Council has been newly established together with the Nuclear Regulatory Committee. It is a place for carrying forward comprehensive efforts on nuclear emergency preparedness in times of normalcy, including not only promotion of the collaboration and cooperation of ministries and agencies but also improvement of regional disaster prevention measures. I would like to ask each member of this council to put effort into the improvement and enhancement of nuclear emergency preparedness, to resolve people's anxiety, and to make every possible preparation."