Imminent Ocean Discharge of Fukushima Contaminated Water... Decision Expected as Early as Next Week

Prime Minister Suga Meets with Fisheries Organizations

Representatives from the Buddhist Environmental Network, the Religious Environmental Network, and others held a "10th Anniversary Nuclear Phase-Out Press Conference on the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident" on the afternoon of the 11th of last month at the Blue House Fountain Plaza in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The Japanese government is expected to decide as early as next week on the release of contaminated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean.

According to Kyodo News on the 7th, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with Hiroshi Kishi, chairman of the Japan Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in the afternoon regarding the treatment of the contaminated water.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Suga appeared to seek understanding from Chairman Kishi for the decision on the contaminated water treatment policy, and the Japanese government is reportedly coordinating to hold a related ministers' meeting as early as next week, considering the content of the talks. Hiroshi Kajiyama, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, responsible for the nuclear power plant, was also present.

The Japan Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations has opposed the ocean release of the contaminated water, and Suga's meeting with Chairman Kishi is interpreted as a sign that the decision is imminent.

However, Chairman Kishi stated, "Our opposition to (the ocean release) has not changed at all," and the fishermen's group's opposition is expected to be a variable affecting the timing of the Japanese government's decision.

Although there is an issue regarding the timing of the decision, the Japanese government is reportedly conducting final discussions toward releasing the contaminated water into the ocean.

The Asahi Shimbun reported that the Japanese government "wants to hold a related ministers' meeting early next week to decide on the response policy regarding the contaminated water."

After the meeting, Chairman Kishi explained to reporters that Prime Minister Suga expressed his intention to "decide the government's policy based on experts' recommendations that ocean release is the certain method."

Meanwhile, according to Tokyo Electric Power Company, as of mid-last month, approximately 1,250,844 tons of contaminated water are stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.