Kenji Yamaji

Abstract Concerning the disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in Japan, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO) has been making efforts toward beginning a literature survey, a first step of HLW disposal according to fundamental policies and final disposal plan based on the “Designated Radioac­tive Waste Final Disposal Act.” However, a difficult situation continues in which responses from municipalities, which are necessary for beginning a literature survey, are not being made.

In September 2010 the Science Council of Japan (SCJ) received a deliberation request from the Chairman of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission, and SCJ formed a Review Committee for Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste. The Review Committee made a Reply on Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste in September 2012, in which six proposals are made including safe temporal storage and management of the total amount of HLW. In this chapter, an outline of the current HLW disposal policy in Japan and the contents of the Reply are introduced.

Keywords Geological disposal • High-level radioactive waste (HLW) • Risk • Temporal safe storage