53% of Japanese Citizens Say "Appropriate" for 'Fukushima Contaminated Water Discharge'

NHK Survey... 30% Say "Inappropriate"
Kishida Cabinet Approval Rating at 33%, 'Lowest Since Inauguration'

Half of the Japanese public considers the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean to be "appropriate."

On the 14th, NHK reported that a survey conducted from the 11th to the 13th among 1,223 citizens aged 18 and older found that 53% responded that the plan to dilute the contaminated water with seawater and discharge it into the ocean was "appropriate." Those who answered it was inappropriate accounted for 30%, while the remaining 17% either said "don't know" or did not respond.

A month ago, when NHK asked about support or opposition to the ocean discharge plan in July, 35% responded "support," and 20% were "opposed."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the approval rating of the cabinet led by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida fell by 5% from the previous month to 33%, marking a decline for three consecutive months. This matches the all-time low tied in November last year and January this year since the Kishida cabinet took office. The percentage of respondents who do not support the cabinet rose by 4 percentage points to 45% compared to the previous month.