At the 112th GRIPS Forum on July 6, 2015, Mr. Masao Uchibori, Governor of Fukushima Prefecture, gave a lecture titled “Future of Fukushima”.

Abstract

Having been witness to a great earthquake of such magnitude that it might be expected to occur once in a millennium and a nuclear accident at the same time, Fukushima Prefecture remains mired in dark shadows as residents continue to live in long-term evacuation shelters and the region struggles to deal with the damage caused by harmful rumors. At the same time, signs of the gradual emergence of light have begun to emerge. In this lecture, we will consider the ways in which we can overcome the issues that we face and open the door to a better future through an examination of the current state of affairs and initiatives in Fukushima Prefecture four years after the fateful earthquake.

Speakers’ Profile:

April 1986 Administrative Section, Administrative Affairs Bureau,

Ministry of Home Affairs

April 1992 Local Promotion Section Chief, Citizens’ Life Department,

Fukui Prefecture

August 1993 Finance Section Chief, General Affairs Department, Fukui Prefecture

April 1996 Assistant to the Legal Section Chief, Budget Bureau,

Ministry of Finance

April 1998 Assistant to the Promotion Section Chief, Administrative Affairs Bureau,

Ministry of Home Affairs

October 1999 Assistant to the Local Bonds Section Chief, Finance Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs

January 2001 Commissioner of the Local Bonds Section, Local Finance Bureau,

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

April 2001 Assistant General Manager of the Living Environment Department, Fukushima Prefecture

April 2002 General Manager of the Living Environment Department, Fukushima Prefecture

April 2004 General Manager of the Planning and Coordination Department, Fukushima Prefecture

December 16, 2006 Vice Governor, Fukushima Prefecture

November 12, 2014 Governor, Fukushima Prefecture