"Japan to Release Contaminated Water Possibly by the End of This Month... Timing to Be Confirmed After South Korea-US-Japan Summit"

"Likely Before September When Fukushima Purse Seine Fishing Begins"

The Japanese government is reportedly coordinating to begin the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean as early as late this month, according to sources cited by the Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun on the 7th.

According to the reports, the Japanese government is considering starting the discharge before the start of bottom trawl fishing off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture on the 1st of next month. This is the first time Japanese media have consecutively reported specific timing for the Fukushima contaminated water discharge.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Photo by Reuters

Kyodo News also cited multiple Japanese government officials saying, "The Japanese government is considering discharging the contaminated water between late this month and early next month."

The specific timing of the discharge is expected to be finalized after Prime Minister Kishida Fumio returns on the 20th from the trilateral summit of South Korea, the United States, and Japan held at Camp David in the U.S. on the 18th, by holding a meeting of related ministers including Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi.

Prime Minister Kishida plans to hold separate bilateral talks with President Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea and President Joe Biden of the United States to repeatedly explain that the discharge plan is safe based on scientific evidence. Kishida is also considering meeting with the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, which includes fisheries cooperatives from across Japan.

Asahi reported that regarding the contaminated water discharge, "Officials at the Prime Minister’s Office believe that more than a week is needed for preparatory work and discharge notifications."

In relation to this, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu stated at a press conference on the morning of the same day, "It has been expected around summer, and that has not changed," adding, "The entire government will confirm the safety measures and responses to reputational damage and will determine the specific timing."

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