At a top-level interministerial meeting on Aug. 22, the government selected Aug. 24 as the earliest that it may start releasing treated radioactive water into the ocean from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

The government and Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the Fukushima plant, must explain the situation thoroughly to the nation as well as to the rest of the world. 

They must also fully commit to ensuring the safety of the procedure and taking responsibility to deal with any negative publicity.

The volume of contaminated water continues growing at the Fukushima plant, with groundwater and rainwater continuing to mix into the reactor cooling water.

But the plant needs to reduce the number of contaminated water storage tanks to secure space for the dismantling of reactors. This led to the government's decision to release the contaminated water into the sea by removing radioactive substances from it and diluting it with seawater.

Eight years ago, the government and TEPCO promised the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations "not to proceed with the discharge without the understanding of the parties concerned.”

Masaharu Sakamoto, head of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, who met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Aug. 21, said his "understanding of the scientific safety (of the discharge operation) has been deepened." "But," he added, "we are still opposed to it."

The government has not lived up to its word.

Since deciding two years ago to release the contaminated water into the sea, the government has been explaining its position to the locals and preparing for the start of the procedure "around the spring or summer of 2023."

The locals probably became highly distrustful of the government for what they suspected must have been a "done deal" from the get-go.

To fisheries workers who are worried about negative publicity, Kishida said, "We are shouldering every responsibility to take necessary countermeasures for as long as needed, even for decades to come."

For Kishida, reneging on his word is not an option.

In the meantime, TEPCO has maintained an extremely low-key presence. President Tomoaki Kobayakawa did not meet even once with anyone from the fisheries industry before the government's announcement of the start of the water discharge.

At a news conference in July, he explained that he would meet if requested, but said it was not for TEPCO to suggest a meeting.

We were truly shocked that Kobayakawa must think the Fukushima plant is not his business.

TEPCO has been repeatedly involved in scandals at other nuclear power plant as well.

With regard to the water discharge that will continue well into the future, is the utility capable of disclosing information proactively and explaining the situation to the public? Will it be able to take appropriate action if an unexpected situation arises?

TEPCO must understand that it will never win the trust of the public unless it acts on its own.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has issued a report stating the Fukushima water discharge operation meets international safety standards. So long as the operation is carried out according to plan, it is believed to satisfy scientifically safe standards.

But to guarantee that, strict monitoring and information disclosure are indispensable.

The issue of contaminated water is only one of the Fukushima plant's many serious problems.

There are still no plans for the removal of melted nuclear fuel rods, and there is the danger of future earthquakes causing further damage to the already crippled reactors.

And while the government says the contaminated soil in Fukushima Prefecture will be disposed of for good outside the prefecture by the year 2045, no specific plans have been drawn up.

In justifying its water discharge operation, the government said it will try to accelerate "decommissioning of reactors and recovery." But the time is long past for the government to continue being allowed to get away with stopgap "promises."

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 23