asked in 2005,
answered by his widow

1. Mrs. Takagi, your late husband once worked for the nuclear industry. Why did he decide to fight against it?

He said: "One of the most important responsibilities of scientists is to make clear what we know and what we do not know and also to point out the uncertainties of the scientific and technological project in which we are involved. The more I was concerned, the more deeply I felt: how uncertain is the scientific basis for the safety of nuclear industry! And this marked a turning point of mz life as a scientist."


2. What do you think about the Japanese information policy on nuclear issues?

Thanks to the free access to information law, some information on nuclear issues has become more open than before, but plutonium-related information is not open to the public for the reason of security.


3. How can it be that Japan, a country that experienced the effects of two nuclear catastrophes, has such an interest in plutonium use?

Japanese plutonium stockpiles keep on rising. Japan has no use for plutonium. The public opinion does not support plutonium use in Japan.


4. Do you continue Jinzaburo's work?

I continue part of Jinzaburo's work, the Takagi Fund for Citizen Science.


5. How do you keep up a small fund like the Takagi Fund for Citizen Science?

I don't have a good answer. Fundraising is very difficult in Japanese society because there is no institutional support to private foundations. I try to keep up the Takagi Fund with my full strength.


6. What effect has the RLA had on Jinzaburo's work?

The RLA gave Jinzaburo encouragement. It made him realize his idea to educate the next generation. His death interrupted but I took over his work as a Secretary General of the Takagi Fund for Citizen Science to encourage next generations. So the RLA has had an enormous effect on my life, too. The Takagi Fund is a small foundation, and I think I can learn a lot from the RLA Foundation.