Japan and Nuclear-Powered Ships

[Eupher]

Discussion on another thread of the Norks and Fatboy and his ICBMs and his hydrogen bomb toy, and the close proximity of Japan to the region, prompted some curiosity on my part.

I was surprised to see that Japan actually explored and launched (no pun intended) the idea of a nuclear-powered vessel of their own, the Mutsu.

I was reasonably sure that they didn't permit nuke-powered warships to be homeported in their waters, due to their <cough> experience with fission and how it can be very deadly, Fukushima also notwithstanding.

Now I ain't so sure.

Mutsu had a rather checkered history that apparently didn't last long. Probably a good thing for the Japanese.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutsu_(nuclear_ship)

[DumbAss Tanker]

Once they went so heavily into (Shitty) reactors, I think their main problem morphed into the presence of nuclear ordnance on board rather than the power plant.  Don't know if that's still the case or not.

[Eupher]

Once they went so heavily into (Shitty) reactors, I think their main problem morphed into the presence of nuclear ordnance on board rather than the power plant.  Don't know if that's still the case or not.

I seem to recall New Zealand's refusal to allow nuclear-powered vessels into their ports, a situation that pretty much nuked (no pun intended) a military treaty with NZ - ANZUS, according to Wiki.

As Crazy Horse mentioned elsewhere, Japan apparently changed its tune and allowed the USS George Washington to be homeported in Yokosuba. The Navy won't confirm or deny the presence of nuke weapons on board ship, of course, so Japan's concern appeared to be the presence of nuclear energy altogether - I guess.