"Japan begins controversial release of treated Fukushima water", 24 August 2023

Japan began a controversial discharge of treated tritium-laced water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, a major step in the decommissioning process for the reactors hit by a triple meltdown following the March 2011 tsunami.

The solution, hailed as safe by the government, follows a struggle for over a decade to deal with an enormous amount of radioactive water building up in tanks on the premises of the crippled plant...

Despite assurances from Tepco and the Japanese government, the move immediately drew backlash from neighboring countries. Following the announcement of the release, China said it would suspend all imports of seafood from Japan, a step that will likely have a considerable impact on an industry already suffering from years of severe reputational damage...

Speaking after the release, Tepco President Tomoaki Kobayakawa said the company will offer compensation to companies hit by the restrictions...

The government has also set up a fund of ¥30 billion to cover additional reputational damage...

In a Kyodo poll conducted last weekend, 88.1% of respondents said they fear economic fallout stemming from the release...

According to media reports, a group of residents and lawyers announced that it will file a lawsuit asking the Nuclear Regulation Authority to lift its approval of the plan and demanding that Tepco stop the release...