Japan: Rare public apology by Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant manager

[Video Link]

"We sincerely apologize to all local residents, the people of Fukushima prefecture, and the general public for the anxiety and inconvenience caused by the accident," says Masao Yoshida, general manager of TEPCO's radiation-spewing Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, in the video above.

The rest of the video is pretty thin on progress details, and the upbeat "getting things done" tone conflicts with what is reflected in independent reports (see links below).

At the WSJ's Japan Realtime blog, Kenneth Maxwell writes:

Scenes from inside Fukushima Daiichi exist but are rare enough. But scenes from within the ravaged Tepco plant featuring its general manager making a direct apology for the consequences of the March 11 disasters, along with several bows, are even rarer. Non-existent until now, in fact. While TV cameras have caught up with Mr. Yoshida before, his public appearances have been extremely rare, and the video released by Tepco Wednesday featuring Mr. Yoshida's direct, on-camera apology–a matter of considerable sensitivity in Japan–is his first such comment within the context of an official company document.