Japan's Radioactive Water Discharge After July 4... Civic Societies in Korea, China, and Japan Stirred

Kishida Adopts Discharge Timing After IAEA Report Submission
China Boycotts Japanese Cosmetics... Korean and Japanese Fisheries Groups Protest

Amid unresolved concerns from neighboring countries over the discharge of contaminated water from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the Japanese government has specified the timing for the release to be after July 4.

According to Japanese media reports including Asahi Shimbun on the 27th, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is finalizing his schedule to meet with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the 4th of next month. During this meeting, they plan to receive the IAEA's final report on the safety of the contaminated water and make it public.

Site of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Prime Minister Kishida is expected to choose an appropriate discharge time based on inspections by the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan and the IAEA report. Earlier, the Japanese government requested an investigation by the IAEA to demonstrate that the contaminated water meets international safety standards, and the IAEA inspection team reportedly completed an on-site inspection earlier this month. The Nuclear Regulation Authority will begin final inspections of the facilities for discharging contaminated water into the sea starting on the 28th.

The Japanese government appears to be seeking understanding from neighboring countries, including South Korea, based on the IAEA's final report that supports the validity of the contaminated water discharge. Asahi Shimbun reported that despite opposition from neighboring countries, the Japanese government plans to seek domestic and international understanding based on the report, according to government officials.

However, concerns remain strong among civil societies in South Korea, China, and Japan regarding the marine discharge of contaminated water. According to a recent report by The Japan Times, in China, a boycott movement against Japanese cosmetics companies has emerged as a form of protest against the contaminated water discharge. As a result, the stock price of the famous Japanese cosmetics brand SHISEIDO plunged 6.8% last week, and other cosmetics manufacturers such as Pola Orbis Holdings and KOSE also saw their stock prices fall by more than 3% since last week.

On the 26th, a member of a civic group is holding a placard protest against the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima in front of the Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Fishing organizations in South Korea and Japan also maintain their opposition to the contaminated water discharge. On the 23rd, about 700 fishermen, including members of the Korea Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, mobilized around 200 vessels to hold a rally against the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water discharge off the coast of Wando.

In their declaration, they stated, "If contaminated water is dumped into the sea, the livelihoods of our fishermen and those engaged in the fisheries industry will inevitably be threatened, and the health and safety of future generations will also be at risk," adding, "The Japanese government should abandon marine dumping and store the (nuclear power plant contaminated water) domestically."

On the 22nd, the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations of Japan adopted a special resolution opposing the marine discharge of contaminated water at its general meeting. According to Asahi Shimbun and others on the 22nd, Federation Chairman Masanobu Sakamoto said, "Our stance opposing the (contaminated water) discharge remains unchanged, and we intend to request through this resolution that the government take responsibility over several decades."

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