News - South China Morning Post
· collected 2026-09-07 · by Julian Ryall
The Mayor of Hitachiomiya, Sadayuki Suzuki, has accepted a request from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to conduct a preliminary survey on storing nuclear waste in the town. The plan is met with backlash from residents who are protesting against the idea, stating that it would bring lasting stigma to the area. The preliminary survey aims to determine if Hitachiomiya's geology is suitable for storing highly radioactive nuclear waste. Approximately 87 miles northwest of Tokyo, the town is currently a popular tourist destination known for its natural beauty and hot spring resorts.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The rural Japanese town of Hitachiomiya, located 140km (87 miles) northwest of Tokyo, has been chosen by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a potential site for storing Japan's large stockpile of highly radioactive nuclear waste. The decision was made after Hitachiomiya Mayor Sadayuki Suzuki accepted a request from the ministry to conduct a preliminary survey on whether the town's geology is suitable for storing such waste. However, many residents and tourism representatives are opposing the plan, saying it would bring a lasting stigma to their community despite potential state handouts. The town relies heavily on its tourist industry, which includes golf courses and hot spring resorts, but officials have become tight-lipped about promoting these attractions in light of the nuclear waste proposal.
Written for “Japanese Nuclear Waste Disposal” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 6577 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-07
Nuclear waste plan for Japanese resort town sparks backlash: ‘not our problem’
asserted
plan → spark → backlash
Hitachiomiya weighs state handouts against lasting stigma as residents protest against a preliminary survey for radioactive waste storage
The rural Japanese town of Hitachiomiya sprawls down the Naka River valley in northwest Ibaraki prefecture, surrounded by lush forests and overlooked by the picturesque Yamizo mountains.
asserted
town → weigh → mountains
Just 140km (87 miles) from Tokyo, its golf courses attract weekend players, while onsen hot spring resorts in the surrounding hills keep local business steady year-round.
asserted
resorts → attract → business
The local tourism association’s website highlights traditional festivals, campsites, hiking and cycling routes, alongside unique sights – including a complex of cave tombs on Mount Raijin, an ancient cedar grove and centuries-old temples and shrines.
asserted
website → highlight → Raijin
This week, Hitachiomiya Mayor Sadayuki Suzuki accepted a request from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for his community to undergo a preliminary survey to determine whether the town’s geology is suitable for a repository to store Japan’s large – and growing – stockpile of highly radioactive nuclear waste.
asserted
geology → accept → waste
In a statement issued on Monday, Suzuki said the area showed a “relatively high probability of exhibiting favourable characteristics according to the scientific characteristics map”, adding that land was available “to install above-ground facilities for final disposal”.
uncertain
land → issue → disposal
