Nuclear Safety Cultural Conflicts and Its Countermeasures: Revelation from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

After the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, cultural conflict in nuclear safety between the government, the nuclear power industry, and the public has become increasingly obvious, reflecting their differences in terms of psychological and behavioral attitude towards nuclear safety issues. Focusing on the current issues of nuclear safety cultural conflict with lessons from the Fukushima nuclear accident, this article examines the psychological and behavioral differences between the government, the nuclear industry and the public on the basis of social mentality towards public safety matters. It suggests that there should be a new understanding for nuclear safety culture with a particular emphasis on communication with the public; and that nuclear safety culture assessment and practice activities should be promoted through the establishment of a system for nuclear safety culture, personnel training, and social risk control for nuclear safety.