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 I am Takashi Dodo, the manager of the Codes and Standards Division.
Over the period of 32 years, I have engaged in nuclear-related operations at an electric power company. I will take advantage of the knowledge I have acquired over those years in contributing to the development of standards that will enhance the reliability of nuclear energy operations.
Japan's nuclear energy sector has long been under the mechanism of government regulatory authorities defining detailed specifications, and private-sector operators complying with them. However, over the last few years, industry parties have been promoting the idea of utilizing private-sector standards. In response, the Japan Nuclear Technology Institute initiated an unprecedented move and started a new division, upon the Institute's inauguration, aimed at supporting the development and maintenance of industry standards. I have since been appointed to take charge of the Division.
Needless to say, safety assurance has the highest priority in the use of nuclear energy. It is a constant challenge for us engineers on how safety assurance can be achieved in a rational approach. Industry codes and standars represent a systematic compilation of knowledge generated through these challenges for application in frontline constructions, operations and maintenance work.
Of course, having only industry engineers in the private sector draw up such standards may result in a pitfall that we are blind to. This is why us industry engineers draft standards, and submit them to academic societies and associations participated by experienced academics and government regulators, so that they can examine the draft from all angles, and also incorporate feedbacks broadly from the general public, before the standards are finalized.
This procedure requires a reasonable amount of time and energy. Until our organization was established, a small number of industry engineers took on these tasks and made achievements. Our inaugural purport is to support this type of work as an industry-wide initiative and further accelerate the progress.
This is the first organization of its kind in Japan, and we continue to "explore as we run" the path for standard development. Your words of harsh criticism and warm support are gratefully accepted as we renew our determination to evolve into an organization that meets everyone's high expectations as soon as possible.
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