[1] The Financial Times of September 6 quoted a Daiwa analyst as exclaiming that the Olympics would be a “‘fourth arrow’ of Abenomics, complementing Mr. Abe's three-pronged strategy of increased government spending, looser monetary policy and structural reforms.” See Jonathan Soble, “Japanese rediscover optimism and hope for Olympic bid success,” Financial Times, September 6: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b1faaa46-16e4-11e3-9ec2-00144feabdc0.html

[2] For more details on these contending energy paradigms, see Andrew DeWit, “Distributed Power and Incentives in Post-Fukushima Japan,” The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol 10, Issue 49, No. 2, December 3, 2012: http://www.japanfocus.org/-Andrew-DeWit/3861

[3] Considering where we collectively are on energy, plus the whole Sturm und Drang following Japan's Fukushima Shock, the book is incredibly myopic with only 4 spots where energy and ICT are even mentioned.

[4] Japan is no longer growing, so “all of the above” is not an option.

[5] The Denki Shimbun (in Japanese) describes members of the working group of the basic Energy policy committee as being livid in a September 4 meeting due to the lack of government commitment to targets. See “Nuclear Power Policy: Discontent Pours Forth From the Members of Working Group of Advisory Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,” Denki Shimbun, September 6, 2013.

[6] See (in Japanese) “The Full Transcript of Prime Minister Abe's Press Conference at Buenos Aires,” Asahi Shimbun, September 8, 2013: http://www.asahi.com/politics/update/0908/TKY201309080045.html

[7] The IAEA will surely be watching closely, having been embarrassed by the extent of the crisis at Fukushima.

[8] On this, see Andrew DeWit and Christopher Hobson, “Abe at Ground Zero: the consequences of inaction at Fukushima Daiichi,” The Asia-Pacific Journal, The Asia-Pacific Journal, Volume 11, Issue 35, No. 1, September 2, 2013: http://www.japanfocus.org/-Christopher-Hobson/3991

[9] Jeff Kingston offers a wonderfully dry and fact-packed overview of the mayhem, in “Don't worry: team Abe is tackling the nuclear crisis at Fukushima,” Japan Times, September 7, 2013: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2013/09/07/commentary/dont-worry-team-abe-is-tackling-the-nuclear-crisis-at-fukushima/

[10] The Financial Times initially reported Abe as insisting “that the radiation is isolated to an area of 0.3 square km” of Fukushima Harbour,“ and then edited out the claim.

[11] See “Nuclear error,” Nature Editorial, September 3, 2013: http://www.nature.com/news/nuclear-error-1.13667

[12] See Eric Slavin, “Scientists say Fukushima danger limited, – for now,” Stars and Stripes, September 3, 2013: http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/earthquake-disaster-in-japan/scientists-say-fukushima-danger-limited-for-now-1.238928

[13] A short overview of the policy items under deliberation is available in “Editorial: Concrete measures needed to implement true electricity reforms,” Mainichi Shimbun, February 18, 2013: http://mainichi.jp/english/english/perspectives/news/20130218p2a00m0na011000c.html

[14] Andrew DeWit, “Green Shoot: Abenomics and the 3rd Arrow,” The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol 11, Issue 27, No. 3, July 8, 2013: http://www.japanfocus.org/-Andrew-DeWit/3965

[15] On this see (in Japanese) TMG Power Idea is Aimed at Blowing a Hole in Tepco,“ ZakZak, July 3, 2012: http://ceron.jp/url/www.zakzak.co.jp/society/politics/news/20120703/plt1207030745005-n1.htm

[16] See “Former PM Koizumi's anti-nuclear case makes sense,” Mainichi Shimbun, August 26, 2013: http://mainichi.jp/english/english/perspectives/news/20130826p2a00m0na008000c.html

[17] See (in Japanese) “The Number of New Power Firms Continues Apace, and Will Exceed 100 This Year: 1 to 15% Cheaper [than the monopoly utilities], Nikkei Shimbun, July 28, 2013: http://bizgate.nikkei.co.jp/smartcity/kanren/201308021427.html

[18] See (in Japanese) “Reforming power market's with the users' wisdom,” Nikkei Shimbun, August 26, 2013: http://gisyo-104.blogspot.jp/2013/08/2013826_4768.html

[19] Note that much of Abenomics “third arrow” is actually energy reform being sought by central agencies and other interests that want more rapid diffusion of renewables and efficiency. Abe himself had to know what was in the arrow because he chairs many of the committees central to this content. Moreover, his own wife is an outspoken advocate of green growth versus nuclear power.

[20] See “Renewables to surpass gas by 2016 in the global power mix,” International Energy Agency, June 26, 2013: http://www.iea.org/newsroomandevents/pressreleases/2013/june/name,39156,en.html

[21] See (in Japanese) Takesue Teruyoshi, “In Order to Participate in China's Smart City Market,” Nomura Research Institute, November, 2012: http://www.nri.co.jp/opinion/chitekishisan/2012/pdf/cs20121109.pdf On “Green Growth in Cities,” see the OECD Study from May 23, 2013: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/urban-rural-and-regional-development/green-growth-in-cities_9789264195325-en

[22] See the data in Andrew DeWit, “Japan: Building a Galapagos of Power?”, The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol 10, Issue 47, No. 3, November 19, 2012.