Rokkasho, Aomori

  Rokkasho (六ヶ所村, -mura^?) is a village located at 40.97 N, 141.37 E in Kamikita District, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.

In 2003 the village had an estimated population of 12,134 and a population density of 47.96 persons per km². The total area of the village is 253.01 km².

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Economy

Adding on to Traditional farming, and fisheries, Rokkasho has become a center for various energy developments.

Nuclear Industry

Rokkasho was a candidate to host the plasma fusion reactor ITER, but lost out to Cadarache, France.

Nuclear fuel cycle related facilities:

• Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited headquarters
• The Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant (currently under test operation, beginning commercial operation soon)
• A Uranium enrichment plant
• A MOX fuel fabrication facility that will have a 800 ton per year capacity when completed
• A low level nuclear waste storage facility
• A high level nuclear waste temporary storage and monitoring facility

Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited operates a range of nuclear facilities at Rokkasho-mura, including a uranium-enrichment plant and plutonium reprocessing plant. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency also has multiple facilities at the site.

Since the 1970s local opposition to plans to operate Japan's first large commercial plutonium plant at Rokkasho have focused on the threat of a large-scale release of radioactivity. During the 1990s anti-nuclear groups in Japan released studies showing the risks of routine operation of the Rokkasho reprocessing plant. The facility in full operation is designed to separate as much as 8 tons of plutonium each year from spent reactor fuel from Japan's domestic nuclear reactors. As of 2006 Japan owned approximately 45 tons of separated plutonium. For further information see: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

In May, 2006 an international awareness campaign about the dangers of the Rokkasho reprocessing plant, Stop Rokkasho, was launched by musician Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Gas and Wind Power

• An oil stockpile facility
  • Completed: September 1985
  • Max Capacity: around 5700 megaliters
  • Current usage: 4920 megaliters at end of March 2003
  • Managing company：　むつ小川原石油備蓄株式会社
• Wind Farm
  • Begin of operations: January 2003
  • Power: 33,000 kW (1,500 kW×22 units)
  • Managing Company: Eco Power

Farming and Fishing

Stock raising is in particular very prevalent. Fishing is also very popular.

Fishing

Two major fisheries

Documentary

A documentary, Rokkashomura Rhapsody came out in 2006, which portrays the Rokkasho community views on the nuclear reprocessing plant.^[1]

Coordinates: 40°58′02″N, 141°22′28″E