The Phoenix Leader Education Program conducted its 36th Short Field Visit in Ibaraki Prefecture on March 5 and 6, 2026.
On the first day, March 5, students first visited the Tokai Mirai Base of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) to learn about the radiation risk communication activities JAEA has conducted since the accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
Next, at the JAEA Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center, students learned about the center’s overview and Japan’s emergency response framework for radiation disasters. They also toured specialized vehicles used in radiation emergencies, such as vehicles equipped with whole-body counters and vehicles equipped with showers for decontamination.
In the afternoon, at the JAEA Oarai Nuclear Engineering Institute, students learned about the history and overview of this Institute. Subsequently, at the HTTR (High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor), students studied the principles of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors and the concept of hydrogen production utilizing heat generated during operation. Additionally, at the JMTR (Japan Material Testing Reactor), students learned about the fundamentals of basic research conducted using this reactor and safety research, while also entering the reactor building for a tour.
On the 6th, at the Radiation Monitoring Center of Chiyoda Technol Corporation, students learned about the company’s history, business overview, and the principles of personal radiation dose measurement using glass badges. Students also toured the manufacturing and measurement lines to see how glass badges are produced and how radiation dose measurements are conducted.
Students commented that “the explanations were very thorough and helped us understand,” and “we learned many new things, broadening our knowledge,” and this visit proved to be a highly fulfilling opportunity.
Learning about Risk Communication
A photo with a special-purpose vehicle in the backdrop
Memorial photo at the HTTR
Site for measuring radiation exposure using glass badges
