A citizens' group has submitted a petition to Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara demanding he create an ordinance to allow the capital to hold a local referendum on the abolition of nuclear power.
The petition submitted Thursday was signed by 323,076 Tokyo residents, far in excess of the legal minimum of 214,000 required to request the metropolitan government to hold a referendum.
The metro assembly is expected to discuss the matter next month. If a majority of assembly members back the proposal, a plebiscite will then be held.