TOKYO: Japan's prime minister ate what he called "safe and delicious" fish from Fukushima on Wednesday, days after wastewater was released from the area's crippled nuclear plant into the Pacific.
A video clip showing Fumio Kishida eating Fukushima fish, published on social media by his office, comes after China banned all seafood imports from its neighbour following the discharge that began on August 24.
"This is very good," Kishida said as he chewed on a slice of flounder sashimi, calling on viewers to enjoy "safe and delicious" Japanese seafood to support the northeastern region.
Meanwhile, the tritium concentration in wastewater being released from Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant is under expected levels and poses no risk to the population, the head of the UN atomic watchdog said.
"So far we have been able to confirm that the first releases of these waters do not contain any radionucleide at levels that would be harmful," Rafael Grossi said during a visit to Stockholm.
Twelve years after one of the world's worst nuclear accidents, Japan began releasing the wastewater into the Pacific Ocean last week, as it gradually discharges around 540 Olympic swimming pools' worth of water over several decades.
"The beginning has been according to what we were expecting ... but we will continue to monitor ... until the last drop is released," Grossi said.
The IAEA said on August 24 that its independent analysis of the tritium concentration in the diluted water being discharged was "far below the operational limit of 1,500 becquerels per litre."
The discharge, equivalent to more than 500 Olympic swimming pools, is expected to take decades and will allow engineers to start removing highly dangerous radioactive fuel from three wrecked reactors.
Bricks and eggs have been thrown at Japanese schools and consulates in China and Tokyo has advised its nationals there to keep a low profile. Businesses in Japan have also been swamped with nuisance calls from Chinese numbers.
Kishida was expected to visit Tokyo's main Toyosu fish market on Thursday to sample more Fukushima fish.
Japan has demanded that China -- its biggest market for fish -- drop its ban on seafood imports while warning it will complain to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Kishida's government is also reportedly planning a package of financial aid for the fishing industry while also helping it find new export markets. — AFP
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
