Japan's emperor in historic speech: 'Never give up hope'

story by CNN World

Tokyo -- Japan's beloved emperor dramatically took to the national TV airwaves Wednesday and buoyed the spirits of his disaster-stricken citizens, an extraordinary address before a nation grappling with the aftermath of an epic earthquake and a devastating tsunami and growing fears of a nuclear catastrophe.

"I truly hope the victims of the disaster never give up hope, take care of themselves, and live strong for tomorrow," said the dignified and understated Emperor Akihito, a calm and poignant oration delivered from the Imperial Palace.

"Also, I want all citizens of Japan to remember everyone who has been affected by the devastation, not only today but for a long time afterwards -- and help with the recovery."

An address by a sitting emperor is usually reserved for times of extreme crisis or war. Emperor Akihito's direct appeal to the public is considered exceptional in Japan and marks the first time that the emperor has spoken to the public after such a crisis.

The 77-year-old ceremonial but deeply revered chief of state underlined Prime Minister Naoto Kan's earlier assertion that Japan was going through its worst crisis since World War II. It is not known whether he will visit survivors of the disaster, as he did in 1995 after the deadly quake in Kobe.

More than 12,000 people are dead or missing and several hundred thousand have been left homeless from Friday's earthquake and tsunami.

The emperor delivered his speech on the same day that white smoke and a new blaze at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant added to radiation fears.

"Currently, the entire nation is putting forth its best effort to save all suffering people. However, under the severe cold weather, evacuees are having a very difficult time because they lack food, water, and energy sources," he said.

"Also, I am deeply concerned that the current nuclear plant situation is critical. I truly hope that with so many people working together to help, the situation will not worsen."

The blaze was discovered Wednesday morning in the No. 4 reactor building at the plant, a Tokyo Electric Power Company official told reporters. It renewed concern over spent fuel rods sitting in an uncovered pool inside, which would release dangerous radiation if they caught fire.

Even workers who remained at the plant evacuated temporarily as radiation levels there fluctuated "hour by hour," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Wednesday.

"But on the whole, it does not impose any health hazard," Edano told reporters after levels had decreased Wednesday.

Also, tests revealed traces of radiation in tap water in Fukushima city, located 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the Daiichi nuclear plant, the local government said Wednesday.

The Fukushima Prefecture's nuclear department said amounts of radioactive cesium and iodine that are not harmful to the human body were found in water samples taken at 8 a.m. Wednesday (7 p.m. ET Tuesday).

Government officials said the traces found are connected with the nuclear plant. But a measurement of the tap water supply taken later in the day found no traces of iodine or cesium.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/16/japan.disaster/index.html?hpt=T1