Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Encyclopedia
The was formed October 1, 2005 by a merger of two previous semi-governmental organizations. While it inherited the activities of both PNC and JAERI, it also inherited the nickname of JAERI, "Genken" 原研, an abbreviated word for "nuclear research".
On April 10, 2007, JAEA officially joined the GNEP
alliance. The other members in the alliance are Areva
, Washington Group International
and BWX. It is expected that the experience gained from the Rokkasho centrifuge enrichment plant will be a key contribution from JAEA.
, which was the first center in Japan for nuclear research. Currently, JAEA has expanded to several other sites in the Ibaraki Prefecture
as well as all of Japan.
.It has fast breeder reactor center and R&D center.
, close to, but not at the same site as Tokai-mura. It houses the Jōyō
reactor, the Japan Materials Testing Reactor, the new HTTR
reactor, an environmental reactivity monitoring center, and a children's museum.
and does work complimenting the ITER
project. Of notable significance is the JT-60
large tokamak device.
. The center deals with front-end issues of the nuclear fuel cycle.
and Mutsu, Aomori
. English Site The Rokkasho site does work with fusion research, notably a fusion reactor design research institute, a particle accelerator, and a materials irradiation test facility. This site works a great deal with the Naka Fusion Institute and it is hoped that it will someday be the location for the DEMO
reactor. The facilities in Mutsu include a museum, an ocean monitoring facility, and radioactive waste management.
JAEA also co-operates and provides support for the activities of Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited
with their reprocessing facility and Uranium enrichment facility plans.
(京都府木津地区).It has Advanced Photon
Research Center, Neutron
Biology
Research Center.
synchrotron radiation facility. This facility used to work with RIKEN
, but now operates by itself.
. Its Department of Advanced Radiation Technology offers an ion irradiation facility with numerous particle accelerators, electron beam accelerators, an ion implanter and several Cobalt-60
sources. In addition to this, a number of research groups operate here. The facilities are open to a number of universities and research institutes.
for nuclear waste.
Official English Site
On April 10, 2007, JAEA officially joined the GNEP
Global Nuclear Energy Partnership
The International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation formerly the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership began as a U.S. proposal, announced by United States Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman on February 6, 2006, to form an international partnership to promote the use of nuclear power and close...
alliance. The other members in the alliance are Areva
Areva
AREVA is a French public multinational industrial conglomerate headquartered in the Tour Areva in Courbevoie, Paris. AREVA is mainly known for nuclear power; it also has interests in other energy projects. It was created on 3 September 2001, by the merger of Framatome , Cogema and...
, Washington Group International
Washington Group International
Washington Group International was an American corporation which provided integrated engineering, construction and management services to businesses and governments around the world. Based in Boise, Idaho, it had approximately 25,000 employees working in over 40 states and more than 30 countries...
and BWX. It is expected that the experience gained from the Rokkasho centrifuge enrichment plant will be a key contribution from JAEA.
Facts Overview
- Establishment: 2005年10月
- Founding Law: The Japan Atomic energy Agency Law (日本原子力研究開発機構法)
- Headquarters: Tokai-mura
- Permanent Staff: 4386 people as of October 2005
- Board Chairman: 岡﨑俊雄 Inaugurated January 2007
Locations and Facilities
The following is an incomplete list of its activities, sorted by location.Tokai-mura Facilities
JAEA has several facilities located in Tōkai, IbarakiTokai, Ibaraki
is a village located in Naka District, Ibaraki, Japan. It is approximately 120 km north of Tokyo, Japan on the Pacific coast.As of 1 January 2005, the village has an estimated population of 35,467 and a population density of 946.29 persons per km²...
, which was the first center in Japan for nuclear research. Currently, JAEA has expanded to several other sites in the Ibaraki Prefecture
Ibaraki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...
as well as all of Japan.
- Tokai R&D Center (東海研究開発センター)
- Nuclear Chemistry Research Center
- Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories
- The Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (大強度陽子加速器計画 or J-PARC for short) houses many particle research facilities.
Tsuruga Facilities
JAEA has another head base in Tsuruga, FukuiTsuruga, Fukui
is a city located in southern Fukui Prefecture, Japan.-Outline:One of city of Wakasa Area, present southern Fukui Prececture. Municipalized on April 1, 1937....
.It has fast breeder reactor center and R&D center.
Oarai R&D Center (大洗研究開発センター)
This center is located in Ōarai, IbarakiOarai, Ibaraki
is a town located in Higashiibaraki District, Ibaraki, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 19,606 and a density of 845.45 persons per km²...
, close to, but not at the same site as Tokai-mura. It houses the Jōyō
Joyo (nuclear reactor)
is a test sodium-cooled fast reactor located in Ōarai, Ibaraki, Japan, operated by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The name comes from the previous country name of the area around Ibaraki....
reactor, the Japan Materials Testing Reactor, the new HTTR
HTTR
The high temperature test reactor is a graphite-moderated gas-cooled research reactor in Oarai, Ibaraki, Japan operated by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. It uses long hexagonal fuel assemblies, unlike the competing pebble bed reactor designs....
reactor, an environmental reactivity monitoring center, and a children's museum.
Naka Fusion Institute (那珂核融合研究所)
The NFI is located in Naka, IbarakiNaka, Ibaraki
is a city located in Ibaraki, Japan. Naka was formerly a town in Naka District and became a city after merging with the neighboring town of Urizura on January 21, 2005....
and does work complimenting the ITER
ITER
ITER is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering project, which is currently building the world's largest and most advanced experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor at Cadarache in the south of France...
project. Of notable significance is the JT-60
JT-60
JT-60 is the flagship of Japan's magnetic fusion program, previously run by the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute and currently run by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency's Naka Fusion Institute in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan...
large tokamak device.
Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center (人形峠環境技術センター)
This is a small uranium refining and conversion plant, as well as a small centrifuge enrichment demonstration plant located in Kamisaibara, OkayamaKamisaibara, Okayama
was a village located in Tomata District, Okayama, Japan.On March 1, 2005 Kamisaibara, along with the town of Okutsu, and the village of Tomi, all from Tomata District, was merged into the expanded town of Kagamino....
. The center deals with front-end issues of the nuclear fuel cycle.
Aomori R&D Center (青森研究開発センター)
The Aomori Research and Development Center is spread out over Rokkasho, AomoriRokkasho, Aomori
is a village located in the Kamikita District of northeastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the village had an estimated population of 10,890 and a density of 43 persons per km². Its total area was 253.01 km².-Geography:...
and Mutsu, Aomori
Mutsu, Aomori
is a city located in northeastern Aomori in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 61,205 and a density of 70.09 persons per km²...
. English Site The Rokkasho site does work with fusion research, notably a fusion reactor design research institute, a particle accelerator, and a materials irradiation test facility. This site works a great deal with the Naka Fusion Institute and it is hoped that it will someday be the location for the DEMO
DEMO
DEMO is a proposed nuclear fusion power plant that is intended to build upon the expected success of the ITER experimental nuclear fusion reactor. Whereas ITER's goal is to produce 500 megawatts of fusion power for at least 500 seconds, the goal of DEMO will be to produce at least four times that...
reactor. The facilities in Mutsu include a museum, an ocean monitoring facility, and radioactive waste management.
JAEA also co-operates and provides support for the activities of Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited
Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited
Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd. is a nuclear energy company based in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture, Japan involved in the production of nuclear fuel, as well as the reprocessing, storage and disposal of nuclear waste...
with their reprocessing facility and Uranium enrichment facility plans.
Kansai Photon Science Institute (関西光化学研究所)
Abbreviated, KPSI, this is a collection of two separate locations. Official English SiteKansai Science City
JAEA runs the part of the Kansai Science Center in Umemidai Kizu-cho Kizugawa, KyotoKizugawa, Kyoto
is a city in southern Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on March 12, 2007 by the merger of the towns of Kamo, Kizu and Yamashiro, all from Sōraku District. It is the southernmost city in the prefecture...
(京都府木津地区).It has Advanced Photon
Photon
In physics, a photon is an elementary particle, the quantum of the electromagnetic interaction and the basic unit of light and all other forms of electromagnetic radiation. It is also the force carrier for the electromagnetic force...
Research Center, Neutron
Neutron
The neutron is a subatomic hadron particle which has the symbol or , no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. With the exception of hydrogen, nuclei of atoms consist of protons and neutrons, which are therefore collectively referred to as nucleons. The number of...
Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
Research Center.
Hyōgo Prefecture
This location houses the SPring-8SPring-8
SPring-8 is a synchrotron radiation facility located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan and run by the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute. The machine consists of a storage ring containing an 8 GeV electron beam...
synchrotron radiation facility. This facility used to work with RIKEN
RIKEN
is a large natural sciences research institute in Japan. Founded in 1917, it now has approximately 3000 scientists on seven campuses across Japan, the main one in Wako, just outside Tokyo...
, but now operates by itself.
Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute (高崎量子応用研究所)
This is located in Takasaki, GunmaTakasaki, Gunma
is a city located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on April 1, 1900.Takasaki is a regional transportation hub because its train station is the junction of several rail lines as well as a Shinkansen stop....
. Its Department of Advanced Radiation Technology offers an ion irradiation facility with numerous particle accelerators, electron beam accelerators, an ion implanter and several Cobalt-60
Cobalt-60
Cobalt-60, , is a synthetic radioactive isotope of cobalt. Due to its half-life of 5.27 years, is not found in nature. It is produced artificially by neutron activation of . decays by beta decay to the stable isotope nickel-60...
sources. In addition to this, a number of research groups operate here. The facilities are open to a number of universities and research institutes.
Horonobe Underground Research Center (幌延深地層研究センター)
The Horonobe URL carries out research and development on geoscientific study and on geological disposal for high-level radioactive waste. It is expected that this site will become Japan's national Deep geological repositoryDeep geological repository
A deep geological repository is a nuclear waste repository excavated deep within a stable geologic environment...
for nuclear waste.
Official English Site
- FugenFugenFugen is a prototype Japanese nuclear test reactor that is currently shut down and awaiting decommissioning. It is located in the Myōjin chō in the city of Tsuruga, Fukui. The design is an Advanced Thermal Reactor, which is a product of Japan...
See also
- Nuclear power in JapanNuclear power in JapanNuclear energy was a national strategic priority in Japan, but there has been concern about the ability of Japan's nuclear plants to withstand seismic activity...
- Independent Administrative InstitutionIndependent Administrative InstitutionAn Incorporated Administrative Agency or in lay terms an Independent Administrative Corporation or Independent Administrative Institution is a newly designed type of legal body for Japanese governmental organizations regulated by the Basic Law on Reforming Government Ministries of 1998...
(IAIIndependent Administrative InstitutionAn Incorporated Administrative Agency or in lay terms an Independent Administrative Corporation or Independent Administrative Institution is a newly designed type of legal body for Japanese governmental organizations regulated by the Basic Law on Reforming Government Ministries of 1998...
), 2001 - List of Independent Administrative Institutions (Japan)
- United States Department of Energy National LaboratoriesUnited States Department of Energy National LaboratoriesThe United States Department of Energy National Laboratories and Technology Centers are a system of facilities and laboratories overseen by the United States Department of Energy for the purpose of advancing science and helping promote the economic and defensive national interests of the United...
- 2011 Japanese nuclear accidents2011 Japanese nuclear accidentsThis is a list of articles describing aspects of the nuclear shut-downs, failures, and nuclear meltdowns triggered by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.-Fukushima nuclear power plants:* Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant...
- Fukushima I nuclear accidents
- Japanese reaction to Fukushima I nuclear accidentsJapanese reaction to Fukushima I nuclear accidentsThe Japanese reaction to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster occurred after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. A nuclear emergency was declared by the government of Japan on 11 March...
- Japanese nuclear incidentsJapanese nuclear incidentsThis is a list of Japanese atomic, nuclear and radiological accidents, incidents and disasters.-List:-See also:* Nuclear power in Japan* List of civilian nuclear accidents* List of civilian nuclear incidents* List of civilian radiation accidents...