Buried deep within the stories coming out of Japan is this from Nikkei.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Tuesday strongly criticized Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501) for its handling of the earthquake-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

”The TV reported an explosion. But nothing was said to the premier’s office for about an hour,” a Kyodo News reporter overheard Kan saying during a meeting with executives of the power company at its head office. ”What the hell is going on?”

Kan strongly ordered the company not to withdraw its employees from the power plant, which has been facing a series of problems since Friday’s massive quake, ranging from explosions to radiation leaks.

”In the event of withdrawal from there, I’m 100 percent certain that the company will collapse,” Kan said. ”I want you all to be determined.”

So, what is Kan more concerned about, the lives of the workers. the fate of the nation, or the economic damage that might happen if TEPCO collapses?

And while Kan can complain about the information that he is getting from TEPCO, many people in Tokyo are concerned about the official government statements as they continue to present an optimistic tone even as the evacuation zones around Fukushima are expanded.

The average Japanese person needs to have reliable information without a government filter so that they can do what is necessary to protect themselves their families.  Kan may be worried about a panic, but panic comes from a feeling of uncertainty, not from the truth.

We can understand the many concerns running through Kan’s mind.  And we are sure that many in the financial and business world have been in Kan’s ears from the beginning to encourage him to manage the economic and financial damage that might happen as the news from Fukushima grows worse.  But now is not the time to worry about the economy and the markets.  The effects of this disaster on those elements of Japanese life will be short-term.

For now, Kan should be entirely focused on protecting and saving lives.  The more he delays evacuations and filters information, the less time he gives people to react if the Fukushima incident goes out of control, something that taping windows and cutting off air conditioning and heating systems will not be effective against.  Now is not the time to play on the edge with people’s lives to protect against a short-term financial collapse.