Article by: Rio Murakami

Discharge of treated water is expected to start as early as the end of August.The timing will be decided after the Japan-U.S.-South Korea summit meeting.

The government has made a decision on the timing of the release of treated water from the TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean after the summit meeting between the U.S. and South Korea on March 18. After Prime Minister Fumio Kishida returns from the U.S., a cabinet meeting will be held to make a decision. The government has set a summer target for the offshore discharge, which is expected to begin as early as the end of August. This was confirmed by several government officials.

　Prime Minister Abe is scheduled to meet separately with U.S. President Biden and South Korean President Yun Seok-yeol at the Japan-U.S.-South Korea summit to be held outside of Washington on August 18. He will explain to both leaders the safety and scientific basis of the treated water, as well as the measures to be taken after the release, to gain their understanding. The Prime Minister is also meeting with officials of the National Federation of Fishermen's Cooperative Associations to personally explain the discharge.

　Officials at the Prime Minister's official residence estimate that it will take more than a week from the time of the decision to the actual release of the fish, due to preparatory work and publicity. On the other hand, since the ban on bottom trawling off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture was lifted in September, they do not want to start releasing the fish until after the fishing season has begun. Therefore, at this point, we are assuming that we will begin releasing the fish around the end of August.