In Japan, the Hamaoka nuclear plant was completely shut down today following the request by Japanese Prime Minister. Prime Minister Naoto Kan last week requested the Chubu Electric Power Company to suspend the plant in Shizuoka Prefecture for safety concern. The government reached the conclusion to suspend the plant after evaluating the country's 54 reactors for quake and tsunami vulnerability after the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11 devastated the Pacific coastal regions of northeastern Honshu. Chubu Electric Power Company, based in Nagoya, said it hopes to resume the plant soon after taking measures to block quake- triggered tsunami waves. However,the government said the suspension will last for two to three years. The Hamaoka plant in Shizuoka populated by 3.75 million people, is known as the most dangerous nuclear power plant in Japan due to its aged reactors.