Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga promised Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori on Thursday to do his utmost to support the prefecture regarding potential damage to its reputation, stemming from the government's basic policy to release treated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant into the sea.
After their in-person meeting in Tokyo, Uchibori said to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office: "I told him that I have heard many voices from the people of my prefecture, including opposition to the oceanic release and concerns about additional damaging rumors since the decision on the basic policy. I told him that this is an issue not only for Fukushima Prefecture, but for the entire nation, and that it is important for the prime minister to take the lead in fulfilling his responsibility."
He then quoted Suga as saying: "I take the matter seriously and will do everything I can to tackle damaging rumors. I will work on this matter with responsibility and firm determination."
Uchibori said Suga's remark was in response to his plea for a thorough explanation to fishermen and others connected to the fisheries industry about the policy to release the treated radioactive water.
The governor also called for long-term support for fishing industry, such as the establishment of a system to ensure that marine products are traded at fair prices, since the discharge of the water will continue for several decades until the decommissioning of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc.'s plant is completed.
Since the accident at the nuclear power plant, radioactive materials other than tritium have been removed from the contaminated water that accumulated in reactor buildings and other areas of the plant, and the treated water has been stored in tanks on the grounds of the facility.
The government on April 13 decided to dilute the treated water with a large amount of seawater and start discharging it into the sea in 2023, after cutting the radiation level to one lower than the international standard, said to have no effect on people's health even if they drink it.
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