At the same time, former JAIF President Takuya Hattori (71) retired after nine years of leading the organization. Meanwhile, JAIF Chairman Takashi Imai (85) remains in his post.
New JAIF President Takahashi graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1976, and joined TEPCO (as a regular employee) the same year. Since then, he has consistently been engaged in the field of nuclear power.
In 2005, he became head of the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station, and in 2007 assumed the same post at the Kashiwazaki Kariwa NPS. Since 2010, he served as a “fellow” at TEPCO, ranking the same as an executive officer.
When the reactors at Kashiwazaki Kariwa suffered damage during the M-6.8 Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake of July 16, 2007, Takahashi led the efforts at restoration. Much of the knowledge gained through the measures adopted to shore up plant preparedness for earthquakes, particularly the introduction of “important anti-seismic buildings,” were reflected in both the Fukushima Daiichi and Fukushima Daini NPSs, allowing them to withstand the tremors that struck them in the gigantic M-9.0 Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011 (incidentally, the damage incurred by the plants was caused by a tsunami, not the shaking of the earth itself).
After the announcement of his assumption to the presidency was made, Takahashi spoke of his aspirations, saying, “I realize the issues lying before us: the swift restoration of Fukushima, the securing of nuclear safety, the regaining of public trust and the promotion of public understanding. I hope to reinforce the activities of JAIF as Japan’s nuclear industry moves toward a renaissance.”
