The dumping of nuclear-contaminated wastewater by the Japanese government and the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has sparked waves of anger and concern among Fukushima locals, especially fishermen and business owners, over environmental deterioration and a consequent decline in tourism.
Since the release of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean began on August 24, citizens have called for a halt to the discharge so as not to leave a wound for future generations.
Gokubun Tomio, an environmentalist in Fukushima, told CMG that "treachery is a matter of course" for the Japanese government and TEPCO.
"Unfortunately, these promises have now become empty words," Gokubun Tomio told CMG. /CMG
"They had previously promised not to release nuclear-contaminated water into the sea without the support or understanding of fishermen," Tomio said. "But unfortunately, these promises have now become empty words."
Haruo Ono, a 71-year-old fisherman in the town of Shinchi in Japan's Fukushima Prefecture, said that "for us, the ocean discharge is a matter of survival."
Shinchi is located in the eastern part of Fukushima Prefecture, facing the Pacific Ocean. The warm Kuroshio Current meets the cold Oyashio Current there, creating a natural high-quality fishing ground. Its seafood was once the "darling" of wholesale fish markets in big cities such as Tokyo.
An aerial photo shows the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant of Tokyo Electric Power Company in Fukushima Prefecture on August 24, 2023. /CFP
After a magnitude-9.0 earthquake hit northeast Japan on March 11, 2011, known in the country as the Great East Japan Earthquake, wholesalers at Tokyo's famous Tsukiji Market were reluctant to purchase fish products from Fukushima. It was not until the past few years that the prices of Fukushima seafood returned to pre-earthquake levels.
The Japanese prime minister and the minister of economy, trade and industry have visited Fukushima many times, but they have not met directly with the fishermen, nor have they asked for their opinions, Ono said.
Yoshio Satomi, who lives in Fukushima's Iwaki City, said it was unacceptable.
Iwaki City is over 50 kilometers away from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Satomi, who runs a hot spring hotel with a history of more than 300 years in the city, said that after the nuclear disaster in 2011, there were fewer visitors from outside Fukushima and almost none from abroad.
(With input from Xinhua)