Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took several steps to convince the public that the treated water being released from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean is safe:
- Emphasizing Safety and Scientific Evidence: Kishida visited the Fukushima plant to highlight the safety measures in place and urged the plant operator to prioritize safety ahead of the planned release
. He stressed that the water has been treated through an Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) to remove nearly all radioactive contaminants except tritium, which is diluted to below regulatory standards before release
- Backing by International Authorities: Kishida pointed to the endorsement of the plan by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which conducted a thorough two-year safety review and concluded that the discharge is consistent with international safety standards and would have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment
. The IAEA also established continuous, transparent monitoring of the discharge process to provide public assurance
- Engagement with Stakeholders: He acknowledged concerns from local fishermen and planned meetings with fisheries associations to address their worries and potential impacts on their businesses
- Transparency and Communication: The government and TEPCO have committed to providing detailed explanations based on scientific evidence in a highly transparent manner domestically and internationally
. The IAEA has made live monitoring data publicly available to ensure transparency during the discharge process
- Reassuring the Public and International Community: Kishida stated he would never approve any discharge that adversely affects health or the environment and emphasized that the decision was necessary for the plant’s decommissioning and Fukushima’s reconstruction
. The government also highlighted that similar or higher levels of tritium discharge occur routinely at nuclear facilities worldwide without harm
Together, these actions by Prime Minister Kishida aimed to build public trust through scientific validation, international oversight, stakeholder engagement, and transparent communication about the safety of the treated water release from Fukushima
