Japan's Kishida Orders "Seek Local Residents' Understanding" for Contaminated Water Discharge... Proceeds Despite Opposition

Nishimura Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Reports on Plan Progress
Local Residents Still Highly Concerned... "Government Explanation Insufficient"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was briefed on the situation regarding the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant's contaminated water discharge plan and instructed the relevant departments to first gain the understanding of local fishermen concerning the discharge plan. The Japanese government is planning to release the contaminated water shortly after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) publishes its final safety verification report, but as opposition from local residents grows, it is expected to become a new variable.

According to Kyodo News on the 20th, Prime Minister Kishida received a report on the progress of the contaminated water discharge plan from Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura. At this meeting, Kishida instructed Minister Nishimura to "continue explaining to gain the understanding of related parties, including local fishermen." The Japanese government aims to start discharging the contaminated water soon after the IAEA's verification report is released this month, but due to opposition from local fishermen, a specific date has not yet been finalized.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Facing opposition from neighboring countries as well as increasing resistance from residents of Fukushima and nearby areas, the Japanese government has begun last-minute efforts to calm domestic public opinion first. On the 10th, Minister Nishimura actively engaged in appeasing public sentiment by meeting with fisheries officials from Fukushima Prefecture and adjacent regions such as Miyagi and Ibaraki Prefectures to seek understanding regarding the contaminated water discharge.

However, opposition remains high locally. According to a public opinion survey conducted the previous day by Fukushima Minpo and Fukushima TV targeting Fukushima residents, the majority of residents expressed concern that the contaminated water discharge would cause reputational damage (harm caused by rumors).

The survey showed that responses indicating "there will be significant damage" and "there will be some damage" totaled 87.8%. The concern rate in the survey conducted just before March was 90.5%. Kyodo News analyzed that "concerns among residents about reputational damage remain unresolved."

Additionally, there is strong public opinion that the government and Tokyo Electric Power Company’s explanations regarding the safety of the contaminated water are insufficient. The response "I think (the government's explanation) is insufficient" was 66.5%, an increase of 1.3 percentage points from the previous survey. Conversely, those who thought the explanation was sufficient accounted for 15.8%, down 1.3 percentage points. Those who answered "don't know" were 17.6%.

Despite this opposition from local residents, the Japanese government is expected to proceed with the contaminated water discharge. Kyodo News pointed out, "The government intends to firmly establish the evaluation that the contaminated water is scientifically safe based on the contents of the IAEA report."