IAEA Secretary General to Visit Japan from May 4-7... Kishida to Explain Contaminated Water Discharge Domestically and Internationally

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been verifying Japan's plan to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, will visit Japan in person from the 4th to the 7th of next month to deliver the final report directly to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Prime Minister Kishida instructed on the 30th to thoroughly ensure safety ahead of the ocean discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (referred to by the Japanese government as treated water) and to politely explain the discharge plan both domestically and internationally, NHK and other broadcasters reported.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to reports, the Japanese government and the IAEA officially announced that Director General Grossi will visit Japan from the 4th to the 7th of next month. According to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director General Grossi will meet with Japanese government officials including Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and inspect the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. On the day of his arrival, the 4th of next month, Grossi is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Kishida at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo and deliver the IAEA's final report evaluating the Japanese government's contaminated water discharge plan.

Regarding this, Foreign Minister Hayashi explained, "Director General Grossi, who is visiting Japan at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will meet with me on the 4th of next month and have lunch together," adding, "Other schedules including a courtesy call on Prime Minister Kishida are being coordinated in relation to Grossi's visit to Japan." Concerning suspicions that the Japanese government obtained the report in advance and influenced its conclusions, Foreign Minister Hayashi emphasized, "The final report is prepared under the responsibility of the IAEA, and the Japanese government is not in a position to manipulate it," and stated, "We firmly oppose attempts to undermine the independence and neutrality of the IAEA with false information."

The Japanese government is expected to proceed with the discharge of contaminated water this summer as planned if the IAEA does not raise any concerning points in the final report. The exact timing of the discharge has not yet been decided. Currently, it is anticipated that Prime Minister Kishida will decide after considering persuasion efforts toward fishermen near the nuclear power plant who oppose the discharge and the reactions of neighboring countries.

In this regard, Prime Minister Kishida instructed at a related ministers' meeting on the contaminated water discharge held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo on the same day to secure safety, prepare measures against reputational damage (rumor damage), and thoroughly explain the situation both domestically and internationally.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno explained at a press conference that day, "Ministers concerned, including the Prime Minister, gathered to share information," and added, "Prime Minister Kishida has continuously instructed to thoroughly ensure safety and politely explain the situation both domestically and internationally." Regarding the timing of the contaminated water discharge, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno reiterated the Japanese government's existing position, saying, "It has been expected to be from spring to summer this year."

All related facility construction for the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant has already been completed, and the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan will complete the facility inspection on this day.