Japanese Fusion Program and ITER

Japanese fusion program emphasizes development of fusion as a candidate of an innovative future energy source, and the ITER project is regarded as the core program in the current strategy. Extensive program review is currently performed to make a decision on the next phase activity of ITER toward construction, and some committees are reporting the results of their assessment. Major decision will be made within a year. Fusion program is also important from the aspect of basic study of science, practical application of advanced technology, and education. Alternative confinement studies and broad range of fusion related technical activities are performed under the overall fusion policy in Japan. One of the highlight is the successful initial operation of superconducting helical device, LHD. Large tokamak JT-60 plan a major modification to equip superconducting magnets in near future. Technology development is focused on blanket research and material study. As a whole, Japanese program encompasses power reactor development through ITER, and contribution to the international society by its research activity on science and technology.