Japanese Farmer's Absurd Claim: "Fukushima Leeks Don't Sell Because of Korea"

"Sharp Decline in Leek Sales After Fukushima Ingredient Concerns at Olympics" Claim
Japanese Farmer "So Angry I Can't Stop Trembling"

Fukushima agricultural products. / Photo by YouTube ふくしま新?? capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] An absurd claim has been raised that the sharp decline in the transaction volume of food ingredients from Fukushima, Japan, is due to the Korean athletes who participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

On the 4th, the Japanese media Kahoku Shimpo reported in an article about the decrease in green onion transactions from Fukushima, stating, "The Korean athletes' expression of concern over Fukushima food ingredients at the Olympics influenced the domestic market."

An agricultural corporation that shipped 1,200 kg of green onions grown in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, to large supermarkets every week said, "In mid-last month, we received a claim from a wholesaler that soil from Fukushima was attached," and claimed, "The Korean athletes' expression of concern over Fukushima food ingredients at the Tokyo Olympics had a ripple effect on the Japanese market."

They added, "As the shipping standards became stricter regarding the shape of the green onions and the state of attached soil, supermarkets only purchased 400 kg, about one-third of the usual amount."

Agricultural corporation president A (45) said, "Although there is no confirmation, I heard this right after reports that Korea expressed concerns about Fukushima ingredients included in the lunch boxes provided at the athletes' village," and expressed anger, saying, "The tremor of rage does not stop."

On the other hand, a Tokyo-area middleman expressed the opinion, "Isn't it possible that wholesalers or supermarkets exploited the Korean athletes' situation to engage in trading?"

Photo by Masahisa Sato, Chairman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (left), and Koshi Hosono, Member of the House of Representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party Twitter

It is also known that efforts have begun to buy up green onions that have nowhere to go in order to help farmers producing Fukushima food ingredients.

Shinoya, a greengrocer in Koriyama City, appealed to regular customers and existing restaurant clients to sell the remaining green onions. They sold 600 kg in a month at 300 yen per kilogram. The representative of this greengrocer raised their voice, saying, "We want to fairly evaluate the producers' efforts and break the 'fuhyo higai (風評被害, reputational damage)' caused by incorrect perceptions."

Masahisa Sato, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Liberal Democratic Party, said, "We put effort and considerable care into the food ingredients with a hospitable heart," and called it "an act that tramples on the hearts of Fukushima residents."

Koshi Hosono, a member of the House of Representatives from the Liberal Democratic Party, shared the article link and wrote, "Whether it is the spread of Korea's negative reviews at the Olympics or wholesalers exploiting such reviews, whatever the cause, we must not accept this unfair situation," and added, "I want to support any movement to help by purchasing."

Meanwhile, restaurants within the Tokyo Olympic athletes' village provided meals using food ingredients produced in three disaster-affected areas of the Great East Japan Earthquake?Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate?as well as Tokyo, but the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee operates a cafeteria to provide safe and nutritious meals for the Korean athletes.

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