Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The leakage of contaminated water from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

(Abridged)

REPORTER: It has been revealed that contaminated water from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station has been leaking into the ocean and that the disclosure of this issue was delayed. In response, the heads of the fishing unions of Fukushima Prefecture today made a strong protest with the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), saying that this time they cannot simply remain calm. Furthermore, there have been strong opposing views to the comments by the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulation Authority Tanaka who referred to the possibility of releasing low-level contaminated water into the ocean. Could you tell us how the Government views this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government's position is that contaminated water should not be thoughtlessly released into the ocean under any circumstance. The Government's basic view is that we will continue to make every effort to manage the contaminated water. We believe that it is imperative that the Government and TEPCO work as one on the issue of contaminated water and we will thoroughly address this issue in keeping with the report submitted by the committee of relevant ministries and agencies.