Former TEPCO Chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata Dies at 84: Fukushima’s Unresolved Legacy

Former TEPCO Chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata Dies at 84, Leaving Fukushima Legacy Unresolved

Tsunehisa Katsumata, the former chairperson of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) who led the company’s emergency response during the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, has died at the age of 84. His passing comes amid ongoing legal battles related to the catastrophic event that reshaped Japan’s energy landscape.

Katsumata assumed a pivotal role in TEPCO’s crisis management when the Fukushima Daiichi plant suffered triple meltdowns following a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami on March 11, 2011. The disaster resulted in significant radiation release, forcing mass evacuations and causing numerous deaths.

At the time of his death, Katsumata was embroiled in both criminal and civil trials stemming from the nuclear catastrophe. Nearly 6,000 Fukushima residents had filed a criminal complaint against Katsumata and other TEPCO executives for professional negligence. Although prosecutors initially dropped the case, a citizens’ inquest led to indictments in 2016.

Throughout the legal proceedings, Katsumata and his co-defendants maintained their innocence, arguing that the tsunami’s scale was unpredictable. While they were acquitted in district and high court rulings, the case is currently pending at the Supreme Court.

In a separate civil trial initiated by TEPCO shareholders, a 2022 ruling ordered Katsumata to pay damages exceeding 13 trillion yen. This case is now before the Tokyo High Court.

Katsumata’s tenure at TEPCO was marked by significant challenges. As president from 2002 to 2008, he navigated the company through a data coverup scandal, implementing corporate governance reforms. His influence extended beyond TEPCO, as he held key positions in business organizations like Keidanren, wielding considerable sway in Japanese politics and industry.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant remains in the early stages of a protracted decommissioning process. TEPCO continues its efforts to retrieve melted fuel debris using remote-controlled technology, a crucial step in advancing research and technology development for the complete cleanup of the site.

Katsumata’s passing leaves behind a complex legacy, intertwined with one of Japan’s most severe nuclear incidents and its ongoing aftermath.