At a July 23 meeting of the USDOE's Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (FESAC), Dr. N. Inoue, Chair of the Nuclear Fusion Council of Japan told the FESAC that Japan remained committed to a fusion development strategy focused on construction of a Demonstration Power Plant (DEMO). Inoue said, "Japan intends to develop fusion as a viable option as a future energy source. For this purpose, the construction of a fusion experimental reactor has the highest priority milestone toward this goal of DEMO." He said that ITER (the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) was viewed as a "one step to DEMO" facility and that a Japanese government decision to participate with other countries in ITER construction could come in early 2001. Between now and then, Japan was continuing its collaboration with Europe and Russia on the facility design. He said that "In parallel (with its ITER work), Japan studies various concept improvements on plasma confinement, as well as materials development and reactor technology. The Nuclear Fusion Council, which Inoue chairs, is a part of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission, which Inoue described as "the highest organization that has authority on making decisions on nuclear energy development in Japan."

Inoue described the "requirements for the Next Step in fusion research," saying, "Reserach with burning plasma is inevitable." He said the "physics of long burn plasma is common to any type of magnetic fusion device" and that "use of reacting plasma core accelerates the development of fusion technologies." He said that the "various technologies required for fusion can only be studied with an actual integrated device." He said the projected $5 billion cost of ITER was "not of concern" to the Government of Japan. Asked about differences between the Japanese and U.S. fusion programs, Inoue noted that in Japan, in addition to large university and laboratory programs, there was heavy involvement of industry in the Japanese program. He said there was widespread support for fusion in Japan both in the government, in "economic and industrial societies," in "academic society," and among the public. He provided copies of several supportive statements from various bodies. He said that proposals to host ITER in Japan were being developed and that "Japan hopes to actively promote the ITER project as a most important item in the fusion research program." He said that "Japan respects the U.S. potential in fusion research" and hopes that the U.S. will "rejoin the ITER activities."