Governor Uchibori Eager to Promote Fukushima Reconstruction at G7 Hiroshima Summit

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At a regular press conference on May 15, Governor UCHIBORI Masao of Fukushima Prefecture said that he saw the G7 Hiroshima Summit, scheduled for May 19 to 21, as “a valuable opportunity to deepen understanding of Fukushima’s endeavors toward its reconstruction.” He expressed his determination to actively spread the word there on Fukushima’s progress on recovery since the accident.

According to the governor, food materials produced in Fukushima will be used for meals for foreign dignitaries at the G7 Hiroshima Summit, adding that Fukushima’s sake and foods will be exhibited at the international media center (IMC), a facility for the press.

Also, the prefecture, in coordination with the national government, plans a panel exhibit at the IMC on the state of reconstruction, similarly to what had been done at the recently concluded G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment in Sapporo (April 15-16) and the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Karuizawa, Nagano (April 16-18).

Meanwhile, in relation to international understanding on the handling of water treated by the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS)—water from Fukushima Daiichi purified of radioactive substances other than tritium to levels below the regulatory standards (ALPS-treated water)—the Japanese and South Korean governments agreed to a visit by a South Korean delegation to Japan. The visit was agreed to at a summit meeting between Japan’s Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio and South Korean President YOON Suk Yeol in Seoul on May 7. It will take place in May and last four days.

Governor Uchibori emphasized that he wanted the government to use that visit to promote accurate, scientifically grounded information, and to continue to be responsible for fermenting understanding domestically and internationally in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He also said that while the prefecture had no specific plans during the visit of the delegation, he recognized what he called “an important step on a fundamental issue,” referring to the Korean decision to change its description of the ALPS-treated water from “contaminated water” to “treated water.”

Governor Uchibori also mentioned an exchange of opinions on May 12 between the government and the IAEA’s expert team that was visiting Japan to inspect a project for reusing soil in Fukushima Prefecture that had been exposed to radioactive fallout during the 2011 accident. Regarding the team’s statement that building public confidence from now on was an important issue, he reiterated his view on the need for effective risk communication, saying, “Scientific safety and people’s feelings of security are not the same thing.”