Since 1973, nuclear energy has been a national strategic priority in Japan, as the nation is heavily dependent on imported fuel, with fuel imports accounting for 61% of energy production. In 2008, after the opening of 8 brand new nuclear plants in Japan (2 on the Island of Hokkaidō, 3 on Honshū, and 1 each on Kyūshū, Shikoku, and Tanagashima) Japan became the third largest nuclear power user in the world with 53 nuclear reactors. These provide 34.5% of Japan's electricity.

History

In 1954, Japan budgeted 230 million yen for nuclear energy, marking the beginning of the program. The Atomic Energy Basic Law limited activities to only peaceful purposes.

The first nuclear reactor in Japan was built by the UK's GEC. In the 1970s the first Light Water Nuclear Plants were built in cooperation with American companies. These plants were bought from US Vendors such as General Electric or Westinghouse with contractual work done by Japanese companies, who would later get a license themselves to build similar plant designs. Developments in nuclear power since that time has seen contributions from Japanese companies and research institutes on the same level as the other big users of nuclear power.

Japan's nuclear industry was not hit as hard by the effects of the Three Mile Island accident (TMI) or the Chernobyl disaster as some other countries. Construction of new plants continued to be strong through the 1980s, 1990s, and up to the present day. However, starting in the mid-1990s there were several nuclear related accidents and cover-ups in Japan that eroded public perception of the industry, resulting in protests and resistance to new plants. These accidents included the Tokaimura nuclear accident, the Mihama steam explosion, cover-ups after an accidents at the Monju reactor, among others, more recently the Chūetsu offshore earthquake aftermath. While exact details may be in dispute, it is clear that the safety culture in Japan's nuclear industry has come under greater scrutiny.

December 1995: the fast breeder Monju Nuclear Power Plant sodium leak. March 1997: the Tokai reprocessing waste explosion. 1999: a fuel loading system malfunctioned at a nuclear plant in the Fukui Prefecture and set off an uncontrolled nuclear reaction and explosion. September 1999: the criticality accident at the Tokai fuel fabrication facility. August 2002: a widespread falsification scandal starting in that lead to shut down all of Tokyo Electric Power Company’s 17 nuclear reactors; Tokyo Electric's officials had falsified inspection records and attempted to hide cracks in reactor vessel shrouds in 13 of its 17 units. 16 July 2007: a severe earthquake (measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale) hit the region where Tokyo Electric's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant is located and radioactive water spilled into the Sea of Japan; as of March 2009, all of the reactors remain shut down for damage verification and repairs; the plant with seven units was the largest single nuclear power station in the world. 2008: an earthquake cracked the reactor cooling towers at the Kurihara Nuclear Power Plant, spilling wastewater and damaging the reactor core.

See also

;Main Articles

Japan --> Economy of Japan --> Energy in Japan --> here

Nuclear power --> Nuclear energy policy --> here

;Japan and nuclear weapons

Japanese nuclear weapons program

Japan's non-nuclear policy

Japan's Three Non-Nuclear Principles

;Politics

Politics of Japan

Japanese-American relations

* United States-Japan Joint Nuclear Energy Action Plan

Global Nuclear Energy Partnership

;Accidents

Tokaimura nuclear accident

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant about 2007 Chūetsu offshore earthquake (6.8 on the Richter scale)

Mihama accidents

;Nuclear waste

Horonobe, Hokkaidō

References

External links

Government program for nuclear energy on the Federation of Electric Power Companies website

Nuclear power in Japan on the World Nuclear Association website

WNA 2006 briefing paper

Japan's nuclear facilities face quake risk

Japan to Boost Nuclear Accident Compensation Fund, Kyodo Says

Category:Politics of Japan

Name	Lin Chi-ling (林志玲)
Birthdate	November 29, 1974
Birth place	Taipei, Taiwan
Height
Haircolor	Black
Eyecolor	Black
Measurements	34"-23½"-35" (US)86-60-89
Weight	53kg (117 lbs)
Dress size	6 (US)36 (EU)
Shoe size	9 (US)38 (EU)
Agency	Catwalk Production House
Alias	Sister Chi-ling, 040, Ice-cream

Lin Chi-ling ( – born 29 November 1974, in Taipei, Taiwan), is a Taiwanese model and actress. Famed for her gentle demeanor and physical beauty, Lin has been referred to as "The First Face of Taiwan" by members of the Taiwanese media, and has been an official spokesperson for both China Airlines and Longines since 2006. Lin's meteoric rise to fame caused Taiwanese commentators and scholars to coin the phrase "The Lin Chi-Ling Phenomenon."

Biography

Early life

Lin's father, Lin Fan-Nan (), and her mother, Wu Tzu-Mei (), are both from Tainan, in southern Taiwan. Following their marriage, they moved to Taipei where Lin and her elder brother Lin Chi-Hong () were born. Lin attended Taipei Municipal Zhongzheng Junior High School and at the age of 15 was discovered by model talent scout Lin Jian-Huan (). She later attended Bishop Strachan School in Toronto, Canada, then attended the University of Toronto until 1997 when she completed a bachelor's degree, double-majoring in Western art history and economics.

After graduating from university, Lin returned to Taiwan. She intended to pursue a career in fine art and sought a position at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, but was turned away because she lacked a postgraduate degree in the field. Lin continued doing part-time modeling work before leaving the business and working for a time as an administrative assistant for the Fubon Cultural and Educational Foundation. In 2000, Lin left Fubon and spent three months studying in Japan, then returned to Taiwan and began modeling with Catwalk Production House.

"The Lin Chi-Ling Phenomenon"

In 2002, Lin was invited to model in a television advertisement in Hong Kong. The advertisement received attention and discussion on the internet, and interest in Lin began to grow. The following year, noted television producer Ge Hongfu offered Lin a position as hostess of a fashion program on Shanghai Oriental Television. In 2004, Lin starred in a broad series of advertisements in Taiwan that included giant building-size posters, billboards, and television commercials. Almost overnight, Lin skyrocketed to national fame and became an instant celebrity model. Her rise to fame initiated a Taiwanese craze for supermodels, an effect commentators named "The Lin Chi-Ling Phenomenon" ().

Lin's popularity grew throughout the rest of 2004 as she began modeling in Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese advertisements, and continued when she began doing Japanese advertisements in 2005. From 2004 to 2006, Lin served as Taiwan's goodwill ambassador to the Japan Tourism Association. On August 8, 2005, Lin was in Dalian, China, shooting an advertisement for Proctor and Gamble home products when she fell from the back of a horse she was riding and was inadvertently trampled. Workers rushed Lin to a nearby hospital where doctors discovered that she had suffered 6 broken ribs, a punctured left lung, and an accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity. Lin underwent four months of treatment and therapy, and announced in November 2005 that she had completely recovered.

Television career

Lin has had numerous roles in television over her time as a model, being the host of TVBS-G LA Mode News, TVBS-G Fashion Track,the Golden Melody Awards and the Top Chinese Music Chart Awards in 2005.

Lin starred as one of the three female leads in the 2010 Fuji TV Japanese television drama Tsuki no Koibito. The male lead is popular actor Takuya Kimura.

Film career

Lin has made her film début role in a historical epic directed by John Woo entitled Red Cliff. Playing the role of Xiaoqiao, it was her first time acting ever. In 2009, she starred together with Jay Chou in the action-adventure film The Treasure Hunter.

Filmography

Endorsement

She is the ambassador for numerous products and organizations which includes

;Commercial

Olay Bath 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008 (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan)

Uni-President Chicken Extact 2004 (Taiwan)

Chrysler Automobile (Taiwan)

Pantech G600 Cellular Phone 2004 (Taiwan)

KIA Automobile "Euro Carens" 2004 (Taiwan)

Xiduoduo Vegetable Fiber Congee 2004 & 2005 (China)

Lucky Grass Jewelry 2004 & 2005 (Taiwan)

Lee Cooper Jeans 2004, 2005 & 2006 (Taiwan)

Olay Skincare 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008 (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan)

Visit Japan Campaign 2004, 2005 &2006 (Japan, Taiwan)

Asenka Frozen Yogurt 2004, 2005 & 2006 (Taiwan)

Joan Fashion Catalogue 2005 (Taiwan)

Pantene Shampoo 2005, 2006 & 2007 (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan)

ARTDECO Cosmetics 2006 (Taiwan)

Longines (Asia) 2006, 2007 & 2008 (Asia)

China Airline 2006, 2007 & 2008 (Global)

AEE Shoes 2006 & 2007 (China)

Artdeco Makeup 2007 & 2008 (China, Taiwan)

Sunvim Linen 2007 & 2008 (China)

OSIM 2007 & 2008 (China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan)

;Charity

Procter & Gamble Breast Cancer Prevention Association “6 Minutes for Life” 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008 (Taiwan)

World Vision AIDS Orphan Project 2006

Awards

"International Artist Credibility Award", 2nd International Television Commercial Arts Festival in 2006

"Hong Kong Style Icons", Hong Kong Trade Development Council in 2006

"Top Ten China Beauty", 5th International Beauty Week in 2006

"Best Fashion Icon at the 2nd Entertainment Award at Beijing in 2007

"Most popular New Actress", Baidu Award in 2008

"Best New Actress", Sina Award in 2008

"Best Asia Star Award", Asia Model Festival awards at Korea in 2009

"Most Influential Charity Icon", Charity Star Award in 2009

References

External links

Lin Chi-ling at IMDB

Chi-Ling at Catwalk Production House Official Website

Chi-Ling's Blog

Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:People from Taipei Category:Taiwanese female models Category:University of Toronto alumni