Japan OKs Plan to fight reputational damage over water release

Jiji Press

17:20 JST, December 28, 2021

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The government adopted an action plan Tuesday to fight reputational damage over the planned release into the ocean of treated radioactive water from the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

The plan, drawn up at a meeting of relevant ministers, lays out measures to publicize the safety of the water further and address possible reputational damage flexibly.

Under the plan, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and the Reconstruction Agency will work together from next month or later to start publicizing in Japan and abroad the safety of the water and conduct a consumer opinion survey on the issue within fiscal 2021 through next March.

The government will also create a fund to support temporary purchase and storage of freezable seafood in case producers are hit by reputational damage. For the fund, the government has secured ¥30 billion under its fiscal 2021 supplementary budget.