Aiming at Better Physical Protection: Physical Protection in Japan

Japan became affiliated with the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material on November 27,1988. Prior to that time and duringmost of 1988, much work was done to create the domestic laws and regulations necessary to conform with the Convention. On May 26, 1989 Japan began enforcing the last of the regulations associated with physical protection. The paper describes the necessity for and the status of nuclear energy in Japan, explains the process by which Japan revised its laws and regulations to conform to the Convention, and outlines the Japanese way of thinking with regard to physical protection in view of Japanese society and its history.