The Japanese government has taken positive steps to strengthen quake-resistance standards for nuclear power plants since the Great Hanshin Earthquake struck Kobe and its vicinity in 1995. Steps to enhance their quake-resistance have also been taken, but they apparently were insufficient.

A plant's structure itself is sturdy, but its power generation process involves a complicated facility using multiple combinations of a huge quantity of parts and components.

It is difficult to predict damage to annexed structures, such as the electric power system. And it is impossible to forecast when and where a huge tremor will hit.

Because of its scarce natural resources, Japan has held nuclear power generation as a pillar of its energy policy. It has stuck to that policy even after the Three Mile Island accident led the United States to suspend new plant construction and the 1986 Chernobyl accident in the former Soviet Union prompted many European nations to rethink their nuclear power policies.

Japan in the meantime has been slow in increasing its use of renewable natural energy sources.

Revisions to the country's Framework for Nuclear Energy Policy are currently under study, but Japan will likely adhere largely to the current policies.

Friday's earthquake halted operations at many nuclear power plants. It will take time to resume them. We should be aware that the reliance on nuclear power has ironically created risks in energy supply.

We must be modest in preparing for the danger of earthquakes. We must go back to square one in our discussions and delve into such fundamental questions as how far we should count on nuclear energy in this quake-prone country and whether safety can ever be secured for nuclear power plants.

Otherwise, many people will not be convinced of the need for nuclear energy after going through the fear of radiation leaks in addition to the devastation caused by the killer jolt.

The author is a senior staff writer for Asahi Shimbun. /Asahi Shimbun.