Japan's PM sorry for 'towns of death' gaffe

North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy
ABC-AUSTRALIA
Updated September 12, 2011 11:18:01

Japan's new prime minister has apologised to the people of Fukushima after one of his ministers was forced to quit for calling communities around the stricken nuclear plan "towns of death".
Audio: Radiation gaffe claims scalp of Japanese minister (AM)

After touring the area around the leaking nuclear plant, new industry minister Yoshio Hachiro played a joke on reporters, approaching one in his protective clothing and pretending to wipe his sleeve on the journalist while saying "Look out, radiation".

The minister then described communities around the plant as "towns of death".

The comments were seen as offensive to victims of the world's worst nuclear accident in 25 years.

After the public outcry, Mr Hachiro apologised and resigned, prompting the new prime minister, Yoshihiko Noda, to also apologise.

"I visited the affected areas in Fukushima and discussed radiation issues," Mr Hachiro said.

"I wanted to tell reporters that radiation is a serious issue. But I deeply apologise if I hurt anyone's feelings."

Fellow government member Yukio Edano says the incident is "highly regrettable".

"He has hurt the feelings of all the Fukushima people who are suffering because of this accident," he said.

It is not the first gaffe from Mr Noda's barely week-old cabinet.

The new defence minister has already described himself as an "amateur" concerning security.

Mr Noda, who took over as Japan's sixth prime minister in five years after predecessor Naoto Kan resigned, will face harsh questioning over his appointment of Mr Hachiro and other novice ministers in a session of parliament expected to begin this week.

He won a bruising battle to become head of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and has emphasised the need to restore fractured party unity in his appointments, raising concerns that he had done so at the expense of expertise.

The incident has given the opposition its first smell of blood since Mr Noda's installation.

"I can't help thinking of all the Fukushima kids who being bullied and teased because of radiation," says opposition secretary general Nobuteru Ishihara.

"The prime minister should also be held accountable for appointing such a minister."

It has not been lost on many Japanese that the ministry Yoshio Hachiro is in charge of has been blamed for poor nuclear oversight, and particularly for allowing the operator of the Fukushima plant to run it without proper tsunami protections.

The opposition has vowed to pursue Mr Noda all week in parliament on questions about his judgement in appointing his closest advisors and ministers.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-12/j ... ts/2880914