The government is set to announce Tuesday when the release of tritium-laced water at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant will begin, after the prime minister met with the head of Japan’s largest fishing union on Monday in an attempt to reassure the fishing industry over the plan.
But although the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, or Zengyoren, remains staunchly opposed to the water discharge from the plant in Fukushima Prefecture, in all likelihood the government will proceed with the plan despite lingering worries of reputational damage. There is also opposition from local residents as well as neighboring countries over the release.
The discharge could start as early as Thursday, national broadcaster NHK and Jiji Press reported.