Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura inspected the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant Thursday, his first visit since taking the role last week, to assess the progress of decommissioning and the ongoing challenges stemming from the March 2011 nuclear disaster.
Nishimura is also scheduled to meet with officials of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, operator of the Fukushima No. 1 plant, chiefs of local governments and the prefectural assembly, as his ministry faces multiple challenges such as a plan to discharge treated water containing trace amounts of tritium into the sea.
Nishimura, after being named as chief of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in the Aug. 10 Cabinet reshuffle, had expressed eagerness to visit Fukushima Prefecture in the country's northeast as soon as possible.
Earlier in the month, local government chiefs from the prefecture called on the central government to take measures to prevent reputational damage to local businesses selling marine products, a key concern among the fisheries industry which opposes the discharge expected to begin next spring.
The request was made by the mayors of Okuma and Futaba — the two towns hosting the Fukushima plant — and Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori during a meeting in Tokyo with Nishimura's predecessor Koichi Hagiuda, now chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council.
The local government heads have also urged the central government to create an environment where marine products are traded at fair prices so local residents, particularly young people, can operate competitive businesses.
While construction of the discharge facilities is under way following the plan's approval by the Nuclear Regulation Authority, neighboring China continues to oppose the release of the treated water.
South Korea has also expressed concerns over the plan.