Japanese Government, "Tokyo Olympics, Establishing Quarantine Measures for Safe Participation of Korean Athletes"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The Japanese government announced on the 4th that it is establishing quarantine measures to ensure the safe participation of the Korean delegation in the Tokyo Olympics despite the spread of COVID-19 this year.

Katsuei Hirasawa, Minister for Reconstruction of the Japan Reconstruction Agency, the organization responsible for recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, said at an online briefing for Korean media held by the Embassy of Japan in Korea, "We are aware that there are voices expressing concern about holding the Tokyo Olympics amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which shows no sign of ending."

He added, "We are determined to make thorough preparations so that the Korean athletes can come to Japan and participate by ensuring perfect quarantine measures," and explained, "The Japanese government shares the recognition with IOC President Bach to realize a safe and secure event and will continue to cooperate closely going forward."

Minister Hirasawa expressed hope that more people would visit Fukushima and consume local agricultural products through the Olympics, thereby supporting the residents of the affected areas.

He stated, "Fukushima Prefecture conducts thorough monitoring inspections of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products before shipment, publishes the results, and takes measures to absolutely prevent distribution in the market if radioactive substances exceed the standard values," and claimed, "Recently, there have been almost no foods exceeding the radioactive standards."

He continued, "However, despite no safety issues, there are cases where consumers avoid products from Fukushima simply due to psychological anxiety," and said, "It is very regrettable that neighboring and friendly country Korea also unfortunately behaves this way."

A Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries official attending the briefing stated that immediately after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, 54 countries and regions regulated imports of foods produced in Japan’s affected areas, and since then, 39 countries and regions have lifted these restrictions.

Fifteen countries and regions, including Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Korea, which are the largest importers of Japanese food products, still maintain these regulations.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries official reiterated the safety of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products from Fukushima, emphasizing, "Foods exceeding Japan’s strict radioactive standards are absolutely prevented from distribution within Japan or export overseas."

However, on the 22nd of last month, cesium was detected at five times the Japanese government’s food permissible limit (100 Bq per kg) in rockfish caught off the coast of Fukushima.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced that all rockfish caught that day were recalled and discarded, shipments were suspended, and the cause of the detected radioactivity exceeding the standard is being investigated.