「神格化された救世主」を演出?：:謝罪ビデオ、なにか違っていませんか

　福島原発の吉田所長の謝罪ビデオが公開されたという。普通、大きな工場などで大事故が起こった場合、謝罪会見には社長、会長のみならず、一番の直接責任者が現れるのが当然である。ところが、福島原発の場合、日本国民のみならず、海外まで汚染の渦に巻き込みながら、所長の公式な謝罪会見というものが一切なされていないことは、社会常識から逸脱しており、とても奇怪だと思うのは薔薇っ子だけだろうか。

東電や保安院の発表によれば、福島原発は安定期に入っているそうである。もしそれが真実なのであるなれば、とっくに所長が出てきて、国民と世界に向かってのお詫びと、作業の経過報告を定期的に公式の場で行うべきである。

にもかかわらず、吉田所長にそれを求める声はどこからも聞こえて来ない、それどころか、彼こそが福島原発を救える英雄か、はたまた唯一無二の救世主のように褒めそやかす声しか聞こえて来ない。

３月、東電は制御不能になった原発を捨てて、社員を全員退避させたいと政府に要請したらしいが、とんでもない話である。潜水艦の艦長は、何があっても最後まで艦内に残り、乗員をすべて脱出させた後で、自らは潜水艦と命を共にする。それが国を代表するような大きな組織のリーダーの責任の取り方というものである。

それに見合う、いやそれ以上の収入を、吉田氏はすでに過去何十年にもわたって、国民の税金や電気料金から授受しているはずであり、当然果たす仕事をしているだけの話なのである。

一度テレビ取材に応じた程度で、全く姿を見せないことで、吉田氏の救世主としてのイメージはどんどん膨らみ、神格化されていく。

これもまた、お粗末な東電のブレインたちが描き出した、メディア戦略のひとつのつもりなのだろうか。

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/08/18/in-rare-tape-fukushima-daiichi-chief-apologizes/

AUGUST 18, 2011, 1:19 PM JST
In Rare Tape, Fukushima Daiichi Chief Apologizes

By Kenneth Maxwell

Scenes from inside Fukushima Daiichi exist but are rare enough. But scenes from within the ravaged Tepco plant featuring its general manager, Masao Yoshida, making a direct apology for the consequences of the March 11 disasters, along with several bows, are even rarer.

YouTube

Masao Yoshida

Non-existent until now, in fact. While TV cameras have caught up with Mr. Yoshida before, his public appearances have been extremely rare, and the video released by Tepco Wednesday featuring Mr. Yoshida’s direct, on-camera apology–a matter of considerable sensitivity in Japan–is his first such comment within the context of an official company document.

“We sincerely apologize to all local residents, the people of Fukushima prefecture, and the general public for the anxiety and inconvenience caused by the accident,” says Mr. Yoshida. Expressing gratitude for support received from companies and organizations in Japan and elsewhere as well as for general encouragement from all corners, the plant director says the video is designed to explain the progress being made in the crisis-management program.

Others in the tape give the impression it’s steady as she goes in steering Fukushima Daiichi toward the goal of cold shutdown. It’s long on talking heads, much less so on scenes from critical areas of the complex. Figures from other companies involved in the efforts to contain the crisis, like Hitachi/GE, Toshiba Corp. and Shimizu also appear, explaining steps towards the ultimate goal of cold shutdown. All are clad in white Tyvek protective suits.

Reassuring or otherwise, the video contains little by way of enlightenment on conditions for workers as they go about their everyday tasks, nor on their off-duty routines. One brief long shot toward the end of the clip shows what appears to be a hangar-like structure containing row after row of tightly packed, empty bunk beds, with a handful of workers seated on the floor, in conversation. Banners and flags containing messages of support are also shown briefly.

In one reminder that workers at the plant also now have to deal with the summer heat while wearing protective suits and gas masks, an early scene displays measures to protect against heat stroke: chill packs are worn in lightweight vests, and fans attached to gas masks “allow for easy breathing and sweat evaporation,” according to the video.

In one insight, a doctor at the plant, Tomohisa Nagata, says that workers at the plant are so committed to the clean-up procedure that, “Sometimes they are hesitant to speak up when they are not feeling well…However, it is important to let me know for not only themselves, but also for their co-workers.” The video doesn’t disclose the type of ailments with which workers might be dealing.

At the end, the tape fades to a white screen with a written message from Mr. Yoshida that mingles determination with optimism: “We will make our utmost effort to bring the situation under control and enable evacuees to return to their homes as soon as possible.”