Setsuden : Die Energiekrise und gesellschaftliche Stromsparanstrengungen nach Fukushima

Setsuden: The Post-Fukushima Energy Crisis

The Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 triggered a prolonged energy shortage that gradually spread all over the country. While the political and economic consequences of the disaster have been studied in detail, the enormous success of the collective power saving efforts that helped to deal with the energy shortage crisis has often been overlooked. The various official and private measures that were taken to decrease consumption also helped to enable Japan to manage with almost no nuclear power until today. Energy as a resource generally remains somehow abstract and ›invisible‹ in everyday live, but this perception profoundly changed due to the unfolding crisis. The high dependence of Tōkyō’s modern lifestyles on a reliable energy supply suddenly became obvious, and people were forced to adapt to the new realities in many different aspects. The powers saving efforts after Fukushima demonstrate the huge potential that lies in even subtle changes of every-day social practices. This paper depicts the profound changes in Tōkyō’s energy situation, and explores how official campaigns and voluntary efforts to raise awareness about energy consumption are reflected in the everyday lives of Tōkyō citizens.