Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, inspects equipment Aug. 20 at the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant to remove radioactive materials from wastewater that is piling up at the complex. (Pool)

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, just back from summit talks outside Washington, went to Fukushima Prefecture on Aug. 20 and said he planned to meet the following day with local fishermen to consult over plans to release tons of treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean from the wrecked nuclear power complex there.

After his visit to the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, Kishida told reporters that he planned to meet with Masanobu Sakamoto, the president of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (Zengyoren), and others to assuage their fears about the impact the move will have on local fisheries resources.

“I myself plan to directly convey the government’s thoughts to the fishermen” regarding measures against groundless rumors and other issues, he said.

Kishida spoke to reporters after visiting the nuclear site that went into a triple meltdown after the magnitude-9.0 Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.

He did not specify the timing of the release of the water into the ocean, saying only that “the entire government will make a decision after confirming the status of efforts to ensure safety and counter reputational rumors.”

After meeting with fishermen, the government plans to convene a meeting of Cabinet ministers involved in the issue as early as Aug. 22 to formally decide on the discharge of the tainted water, which is expected in late August.

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