Regarding the March 4 Kyodo article "Food must be cleansed, Chernobyl expert warns": Many Japanese citizens are skeptical about the safety of products suspected of having been [irradiated by substances] released from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. Many are losing their jobs as demand for these products decreases. This may be one factor related to the increasing suicide rate in the affected regions. An overall imbalance in Japan's economy — in which the Tohoku area slows while western Japan enjoys a booming economy — can no longer be ignored.
As for the issue of radioactive decontamination, the Japanese government should ask for more assistance from experts on the Chernobyl nuclear accident (1986). To regain the trust of its citizens, the government should disclose more information on how it plans to enforce regulations concerning the cleansing process.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.