Prime Minister Shinzo Abe inspected the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant Saturday to show the public that his administration is serious about speeding up decontamination and reconstruction work while it tackles a host of other pressing issues, his aides said.

Donning a hazmat suit at J Village, a soccer center converted into a base for those involved in stabilizing the plant's crippled reactors, Abe met with workers to thank them for their service to the nation.

It was his first visit to the Fukushima No. 1 power station as prime minister. The complex suffered three catastrophic core meltdowns in March 2011 after the Great East Japan Earthquake and ensuing 15-meter tsunami knocked out the power supply.