Japanese PM eats Fukushima fish amid radioactive waste fears

Samantha RosePublished: 11:32, 31 August 2023| Updated: 11:40, 22 December 2023

266 1 minute read

Japanese PM eats Fukushima fish amid radioactive waste fears

Japanese PM Fumio Kishida eating fish sourced from the waters of Fukushima to prove that its safe to eat. Photo courtesy of The Seattle Times

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida yesterday was seen eating raw fish from Fukushima prefecture in a video released by the Japanese government.

The fish was sourced from the northeastern region of the country, notorious for the release of radioactive waste from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

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In the clip, Kishida can be seen enjoying the meal in his office, praising the freshness and taste of the raw fish. The release of radioactive tritium from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has raised significant consumer concerns, with neighbouring countries China and South Korea criticising the potential harm to their fishing industries. China has even banned seafood imports from Japan, reported Sanook.

Apart from fish, Kishida and three other ministers also consumed cooked pork, fruits, rice, and vegetables from Fukushima and neighbouring provinces, as shown in the clip.

In 2011, a massive tsunami resulting from a major earthquake hit the eastern coast of Japan, or the Pacific Ocean side, causing severe damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The accident released radiation into the surroundings, posing a danger to the nearby residents and marking one of the world’s worst nuclear crises.

However, Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), the company managing the power plant, revealed that before this release of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean, other hazardous substances had already been removed. What remained was tritium, which is challenging to separate from water due to its molecular structure resembling water. Furthermore, it emits very low radiation and has a contamination level 500 times lower than the danger threshold set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

TEPCO further disclosed that it might take 30-40 years to release all the wastewater, as they can only release a limited amount each day.

Samantha Rose

Samantha was a successful freelance journalist who worked with international news organisations before joining Thaiger. With a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from London, her global perspective on news and current affairs is influenced by her days in the UK, Singapore, and across Thailand. She now covers general stories related to Thailand.