The International Symposium on Seismic Safety of Nuclear Power Plants was held February 26 and 27 at the Kashiwazaki Industry and Culture Hall, sponsored jointly by the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF), the Japan Nuclear Technology Institute (JANTI) and CRIEPI.

During the Niigata Chuetsu-oki Earthquake that struck on July 16 last year, the reactors at the Kashiwazaki Nuclear Plant of Tokyo Electric Power Company shut down automatically, and a fire started from a transformer. Nevertheless, the important nuclear reactor safety mechanisms for shutdown, cooling, and isolation were maintained. Investigation, analysis and evaluation of the subsequent series of events are underway, with close attention from the international community, including an inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The symposium provided an opportunity for information obtained thus far to be shared internationally in order to improve the safety of nuclear power.

President Shirato of CRIEPI gave the opening address, and in Session 2, titled "Earthquake Induced Ground Deformation - Its Impact and Safety Significance," Jun'ichi Tohma, Director of the Civil Engineering Research Laboratory, gave a presentation on "Seismic performance evaluation of geotechnical works in nuclear power plants in Japan."

About 50 participants from overseas and some 50 local residents of Kashiwazaki City joined the symposium, attended by more than 500 participants on both days. NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) Niigata, the Niigata editions of national newspapers, Niigata Nippo newspaper and other local media reported on the symposium.