Nuclear Issues Put Focus on Japan Regulators - Wall Street Journal

BY NORIHIKO SHIROUZU IN TOKYO AND ALISON TUDOR IN HONG KONG

As Japanese officials grapple with a growing crisis at a nuclear power plant, they also face a perception issue: that the nation has a weak nuclear regulatory system.

There's no indication yet that government regulatory failures contributed to the problems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex in northeastern Japan, where a third quake-damaged nuclear reactor began overheating to dangerous levels on Monday. Meanwhile, the plant's second hydrogen explosion in three days rocked another damaged reactor. Officials said major radiation leaked have so far been avoided.

Still, the perception issues could hurt officials as they try to keep the public calm, ...