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Greetings. I, Michio Ishikawa, have in April 2005 recently assumed the presidency of the Japan Nuclear Technology Institute. As you may be aware, I accepted the post after receiving recommendations in a board meeting, which gathered new directors selected in the Institute's inaugural general assembly.
In retrospect, Japan's nuclear industry proposed the establishment of the Japan Nuclear Technology Institute in December last year as a trump card for revitalizing the industry, based on the common perception that the industry was standing at an "important crossroad". Industry representatives have since engaged in energetic preparation work.
Having received passionate pleas from the Institute's founding members to take up the presidency, I have developed empathy with their enthusiasm to revitalize Japan's nuclear energy industry and bring it to the world's top level.
Upon this conviction, and in view of my long-term involvement with the industry, I have come to a decision to accept the offer.
Having received the vote of confidence from over 100 members, I am renewing my recognition for the high level of industry expectations and the weight of responsibility involved. The Institute has the missions of (1) gathering, analyzing and assessing various operating information, (2) promoting safety culture and (3) supporting the development of private-sector standards, as it encourages business operators to step up voluntary safety activities.
More specifically, the Institute will make timely issuance of practical recommendations and proposals based on rational and scientific analysis of various data. It aims to become an organization capable of expressing necessary opinions not only to business operators but also to regulatory authorities in a third-party standpoint. Transparency of its organizational administration will be ensured through disclosing information on Institute activities and establishing a board of councilors consisting of third-party members.
Information and data form the foundation of our activities, yet it is "people" who bolster the entire system. We will strive to become an organization that uses the sense of justice and pride as technical experts in humbly yet passionately handling information and data from frontline workplaces, so as to develop "activities that contribute to the safety and administration of the nuclear energy industry" and revitalize the nation's nuclear industry community as a whole.
In addition to taking over the operations previously undertaken by the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Nuclear Information Center and NS Net, the Institute will add the necessary improvements to turn them into more lively activities, and embrace new operations for further development. To this end, all Institute staff is renewing their commitment to work in solidarity, drawing energy from the scale and worthiness of our mission.
Today, the Institute stands at the starting line.
We will aim at steadily undertaking projects step by step and making positive achievements that set a "milestone" for not only the nuclear energy industry but also other industrial communities.
Finally, let me express my sincere gratitude to the Japan Electric Manufacturers' Association President Hirotsugu Fujimoto and TEPCO vice-president Ryoichi Shirato for their contributions as directors in the inaugural process.
I request your enhanced support, cooperation and guidance, as I close my inaugural message. Thank you very much. |
Michio Ishikawa, President
April 13, 2005
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