Japanese Restaurant Receives 1000 Calls... "NO Contaminated Water" International Calls Flooding from China

by Heo Midam

Published 28 Aug.2023 15:00(KST)

Chinese Callers Bombarding with Spam Calls
Also Hurling Insults at Japanese
Japan Expresses "Regret" Over Anti-Japanese Sentiment Spread in China

After Japan began discharging contaminated water, Chinese people launched a barrage of spam calls to restaurants and government offices in Fukushima Prefecture, prompting the Japanese government to express regret.

According to BBC Japan and others on the 27th, Japanese companies and shops have recently been receiving spam calls originating from China. Most of the spam calls start with '86', indicating a Chinese origin, and it was reported that a restaurant in Fukushima received over 1,000 calls. Various places including government agencies, schools, and aquariums in Japan have suffered damage due to these spam calls.

In particular, the callers speak Chinese, Japanese, and English, and are sometimes known to insult Japanese people. The main content of the calls opposes Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water. Some stores even disconnected their phone lines to prevent damage as the volume of spam calls made it impossible to continue business.

Fukushima Mayor: "Harassment Calls from China Continue"

On the 24th, when Japan began discharging contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (referred to as "treated water" by the Japanese government) into the ocean, a woman was looking at seafood in a large supermarket in Beijing, China.
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

As damage from spam calls continued, Hiroshi Kohata, mayor of Fukushima City, stated on his Facebook, "Following cyberattacks on Fukushima City's official website, harassment calls from China are continuing throughout the city."

He added, "Only at Fukushima City Hall, about 200 calls were confirmed over two days, and quite a few calls were received at elementary and junior high schools, as well as restaurants, hotels, and inns, with some places receiving over 100 calls."

Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, also expressed regret on the 28th regarding the ongoing protest calls from China. At a morning press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said, "It is extremely regrettable and concerning that such incidents have occurred."

He further explained, "We have requested China to take appropriate measures, including appealing for calm behavior toward our citizens, while urging the safety of Japanese residents in China and the accurate dissemination of information regarding the treated water."

Anti-Japanese Sentiment Growing in China over Contaminated Water Discharge... "Selfish and Irresponsible"

A Tokyo Electric Power Company official is explaining to reporters the machine used to collect samples of diluted contaminated water (referred to as "treated water" by the Japanese government) at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, on the 27th.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 24th, when Japan began discharging contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, China strongly criticized the move and imposed a complete ban on imports of Japanese seafood.

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized at a briefing, "Japan's discharge of contaminated water is a selfish and irresponsible act." He emphasized, "Japan must immediately correct this selfish behavior of shifting the risk of radioactive contamination to the outside and ensure that 'Fukushima's water' does not become a shame for Japan."

Chinese netizens have also intensified anti-Japanese sentiment within China, calling for a boycott of Japanese products mainly through social networking services (SNS) in response to the contaminated water discharge.