Novelist Haruki Murakami critiqued Japan’s reliance on nuclear energy in his International Catalunya prize acceptance speech. He explained the government’s use of nuclear power as a nearsighted decision, solely based on convenience and efficiency.

“’We must not be afraid to dream,’ he said. ‘Do not be caught up by the evil dogs that carry the names of ‘efficiency’ and ‘convenience’. Instead, we must be ‘unrealistic dreamers’ who charge forward taking bold steps.’”