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Paper short abstract

This presentation examines the propaganda strategy at nuclear power plant visitor centers in Japan, based on the 14-year fieldwork project. The author's surveys reveal how their model reactors function as propaganda machines while, simultaneously, the propaganda is negated, unintentionally.

Paper long abstract

This presentation will report and examine the propaganda strategy at nuclear power plant visitor centers (NPP-VCs) in Japan, based on the author's fourteen-year-long fieldwork.

In Japan, the government has long promoted nuclear power generation as a national policy since the mid-twentieth century. Still, it keeps it despite the devastating nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi in 2011. One of the propaganda apparatuses used to promote nuclear national policy is an NPP-VC attached to each power plant, operated by the electric power industry. Since 2012, the author has visited and researched NPP-VCs not only in Japan but also in Taiwan, Europe, and the U.S., and some of the results have been reported at the EAJS in 2021 and 2023.

Every NPP-VC has a huge and luxurious building. Admission is free, and the venue is open almost every day of the year. The target visitor is the general public, meaning people undecided between pro-nuclear and anti-nuclear views.

Their propaganda strategy is clear and simple. The keys are: 1) nuclear power plants are necessary, 2) nuclear power generation is a great technology, and 3) you never need to worry about risks and accidents. The exhibit of NPP-VCs usually features model reactors, explanatory panels, and attractions for children within a "fun" atmosphere reminiscent of a theme park like Tokyo Disneyland.

The model reactor is the highlight of the exhibit. While the scale varies, nearly all NPP-VCs have a model reactor installed. The model reactors are likely to overwhelm visitors with their gigantic size, thereby fostering acceptance of nuclear promotion. However, this propaganda strategy may not be functioning as intended by the electric power industry. In this presentation, we will examine the true nature of model reactors in detail to reveal how this propaganda strategy paradoxically backfires.