I've encountered Yu Tanaka's activities several times since meeting him through AP, but

I find his recent endeavors increasingly encouraging.

The perspective Yu Tanaka brings, which I'd like to introduce this time,

is something I believe the media has not actively conveyed until now.
At least, I had not had the opportunity to know it.

In other words, regarding the conduct of these privileged classes,

I believe we, the public, have always been kept out of the loop.

However, now that it's clear we must live by our own responsibility,

we who live in this country must thoroughly recognize the systems within which we are currently living.

I believe this is an essential condition for protecting our lives.

Yu Tanaka

Quoted below

From an article published in the Loft free paper "Rooftop"

This is Yu Tanaka.

This manuscript was written for Loft, but for your reference.

Surrealism

In the town where a friend lives, they were quietly accepting evacuees from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Among these evacuees were those displaced by the Fukushima nuclear disaster, living even more discreetly.

Despite having done nothing wrong, they were suddenly forced to leave their homes.

The farmland they had tended for years was contaminated, never to be cultivated again.

Familiar landscapes were forcibly turned into memories.

They were separated from close friends and acquaintances, unable to converse with trusted companions.

Arriving in an unfamiliar place with no income, they had to sell their cars.

Unable to bear the heat during a break in the rainy season, she walked to the city hall.

She wanted a fan.

However, a fan was not among the support options provided by the city hall.

So, she had no choice but to walk back a long distance, having gained nothing.

Every day spent only with her children is difficult. She longs to talk to another adult.

She is forced to live this way, despite having done nothing wrong.

Meanwhile, the president of Tokyo Electric Power Company, the perpetrator, Masataka Shimizu, retires without even basic leadership skills.

He receives an estimated retirement bonus of 500 million yen. He denied the possibility of reducing his retirement bonus or corporate pension,

stating it would 'directly impact his future livelihood'.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano reportedly said, 'I was reminded again that he doesn't fully understand the social situation TEPCO is in'.

Under the electricity company's fair remuneration system, this retirement bonus, as part of personnel costs,

is collected from people's electricity bills with a 3% surcharge.

President Shimizu did not forget to submit a request to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, appealing his plight.

Cost increases of approximately 700 billion yen, a rate hike of 16%, and an additional 4% for partial compensation payments.

According to the provisions of the Electricity Business Act, this must be recognized as 'fair cost'.

Our household electricity bills are scheduled to increase by 20%.

Victims unable to obtain a single fan, and perpetrators accumulating 500 million yen for their retirement.

While employees of the perpetrator company receive bonuses, victims can barely receive any compensation.

Moreover, they live in fear of radiation exposure. This is the reality as of June 2011.

← Diary-T 80-85