Fukushima nuclear plant tries image overhaul

The entire place should be cordoned off from society for 200 years, not made a tourist attraction. This is messed up

In Japan lot of things are messed up.

TepCon sums it up.

Call it an extreme makeover: In Japan's Fukushima, officials are attempting what might seem impossible, an image overhaul at the site of the worst nuclear meltdown in decades.

Guess the writer of this article is on the payroll too! "worst meltdown in decades?" More like "worst meltdownS in history!" People forget too quickly that there were 3 separate meltdowns and all 4 reactors on site were heavily damaged and shut down.

It's these little things that plant ideas in people's minds that things are better or worse than reality.

like putting lipstick on a pig.

Image overhaul?

Hey I know, maybe they should paint the reactor with flowers and get an isotope mascot to wave ! That should make people feel better:-/

The leukaemia mascots and thyroid cancer children's songs were a nice touch

"Image overhaul"

What?

More lies?

"...featuring a rabbit mascot with electrical bolt whiskers called "Tepcon"."

Nuclear meltdown p.r. department using bunnyfication is an insult to rabbits. "Tepcon" is a ridiculous mascot, and I was not amused by the train adverts featuring happy happy happy smiling people with this stupid electric labbit. Tip of the hat to JonathanJo, "TepCon sums it up."

Image overhaul? That should tell people something right there. It's not about image, it's about FIX THE PROBLEM.

Key word in the headline, "tries", indicates the writer knows in their secret heart of hearts that this campaign is really a useless whitewash. Not going to work. Good luck removing the core, fellas!

Sad just sad. It just shows how hard headed the exec at Tepco (none whom went to jail or fined). You would think they would rename the company but hard headedness rules again.

Oh, now hiding reality is it called 'image overhaul'... interesting.

Image overhaul or not, who in his or her right mind would want to visit a nuclear disaster site?

Not a good image for an overhaul.

I will never believe anythIng about what TEPCO says unless TEPCO's exectives and their families live next to the plant for a few months.

TepCon... yup, can we get him doing an advertisement with Fukuppy? Seems appropriate.

Whatever the govt and Tepco tell you about the region, and how "safe" it is to visit or even live there, I'd take with a pinch of salt.

What did they rebrand the no-go zones as? Difficult-to-return-to zones!

“And henceforth, the word ‘radiation’ will be replaced with the phrase ‘Magic moon beams’.

T.I.J. all you need is a cute character and some idols, like AKB48 to sing a catchy tune and everything will be forgotten. I wish this place would become more like the Hiroshima Nuclear Dome, as a reminder of what happened and to never let it happen again.

You have to laugh...

The ridiculousness of this effort is mind boggling!

And you would think that TEPCO would learn from the ineptitude that actually led to this disaster that will have multi-generational ramifications.

But, no, clearly TEPCO is still run by a bunch of old men that are completely clueless.

And inept!

Undoubtedly those old geezers who are torishimariyaku thought that this whole mascot thing and lipstick on pig (kudos @KobeWhiteBarOwner for that reference) was a good idea. Of course they would.... probably signed off on it before getting in their chauffeured cars to go drink whiskey in Ginza.

Stupid, bumbling, pampered idiots!!

TepCon???

Seriously, they deserve all of the mocking they are going to get for that!!!

in Britain, after the Windscale nuclear power plant fire in the 50’s, (which was a serious accident) they changed the name to Sellafield.

And it kind of worked I’m afraid to say

Maybe they need a character - Daichi-kun or something. I can imagine the designs.

@Laguna,

They already have one...

"...featuring a rabbit mascot with electrical bolt whiskers called "Tepcon"."

Tepcon.....

Tep[co] Con....

Tepco Conning the the people....

They are truly incompetent imbeciles!!

Was going to make a sarcastic comment about them creating a themed mascot as part of this because of course nobody would be so stupid.

But yeah, of course they already have a themed mascot for this.

They could also throw a 24 hour MELTDOWN rave party, handout Glow sticks, Geiger burgers and fries, seisium beer and snacks.

it would be a BLAST!

Only in Japan. Next we’ll be hearing about some idiot’s idea that, “We’d like the government to march athletes around the plant to prove it’s safe and show the beauty of ge area, and TEPCO. Our officials are not allowed to be in the area for now, but volunteers will be available.”

Fukushima needs international science effort- something that is missing in a lot of other countries such US and France. Fukushima using science is nowhere all that dangerous. If you think Fukushima should be closed for 200 years then we have to close all lot of natural area with similar radiation levels. If Fukushima was strong on real nuclear science then they would stop wasting effort on the water treatment- a total waste of money to remove tritium from water.

Well I just have this picture in my head of PM Kan screaming at them and telling them to get back in there and release the Hydrogen.

They have made the entire Pacific Ocean more radioactive and destroyed the lives of thousands

of people because they were too cheap to design the plants safely? No amount of puff pieces

in JT or elsewhere can cover the fact that TEPCO is a criminal organization and only is still

surviving because they have the LDP in their hip pockets.

The key to understanding is in the 2nd syllable of the new mascots name.

its yet another TEPCO con.

seem to remember another company rabbit mascot that was shown to be a con too.

why are rabbits so untrustworthy?

Sorry but the radiation is even worse in Tokyo central shopping center than at Fukushima and their it doesn´t need any radiation protection at all. As we everyone have an internal radiation meaning that for instance four people together generate more radiation than Harrisburg. Coal power plants do generate during normal operation higher degree of radiation than nuclear plant generate after disaster. What I mean is that we should have a realistic view in all cases. Why not speak about 10 000 killed in water power accident in connection with the tsunami and the earth quake.

Carl - yes radiation certainly is misunderstood and levels around the world easily exceed many of those in Tohoku.

But - by far the majority of those 1,000s of places do not have an ongoing unprecedented disaster potential in the essentially untouchable nuclear meltdown material.

Any further natural disasters, whether they be typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis or whatever, is a constant daily possibility. Another heavy assault on Daiichi could have unimaginable consequences and that is not scare mongering - that is validated science with a big S.

As far as I know higher radiation reading places like NY. London etc don't have this loaded, cocked gun aimed at their hearts.

Don't worry! They have plastic bags! It's all good. I can rest easier now.

TepCON rabbit is too close to the My Numbah rabbit. Both are quite off-putting and disquieting.

The company should inform the public on the current status of the plant. Transparency yes, spin - no.

Nah... Not a rabbit, this must be Tepco's perfect mascot:

http://www.duffzone.org/references/fut/futurama_01_thumb.gif

What next ?

Will there be people on tv drinking water from the plant?

Wait a minute!

That’s already been done......

What the heck's wrong with these decision makers? Their main purpose should be doing something about the problem and not worrying about a make-over.

@Carl

@Reckless

In fact, there are areas in and around Tokyo with much higher levels than in parts of Fukushima.

However, radioactive particles have a tendency to concentrate in the human body and over time will have a deleterious effect which can span generations.

Chernobyl has shown this in animals, insects and humans to be the case.

Fukushima radiation has been found to have altered insect DNA over generations, proving the tendency to magnify and cross over into future generations.

Thyroid nodules have also been found in Fukushima children to be more than the national average.

And the future effects?

Maybe the bunny rabbit image makeover will solve those problems......,

Totally irresponsible behaviour from TEPCO.

Also the article states that it “was the worst accident since Chernobyl” Actually, the corium (coria) has not been recovered and the location of which is not known. So, no! The Fukushima radioactive accident is not over....