12 December, 2018
Fukushima Governor to Visit Hong Kong in January to Dispel Fears and Misinformation
At a regular press briefing on December 3, Governor Masao Uchibori of Fukushima Prefecture announced that he would visit Hong Kong from January 24 to 26 next year to personally help eradicate ungrounded fears and misinformation on agricultural, forestry and marine products from the prefecture.
Showing his concern at the briefing, the governor said, “Before the massive earthquake of March 2011, exports to Hong Kong accounted for approximately eighty percent of the prefecture’s total exports. The continued prohibition of imports of vegetables and fruits produced in the prefecture shows the tenacious effects of unfounded fears and misinformation.” He then explained the purpose of his trip to Hong Kong.
Governor Uchibori said that he would first visit the offices of the Hong Kong government to express his gratitude for its considerate support after the disaster, and would use the occasion to enhance its understanding of the safety of agricultural, forestry and marine products from Fukushima prefecture.
He then said that a seminar would also be held for local mass media, presen...more
- 10 September, 2018 NRA Chairman Worried that Tritium Water Storage Would Complicate Fukushima Daiichi Decommissioning
- 10 September, 2018 Explanatory Meetings and Public Hearings Held on Handling of Tritium Water in Tomioka, Koriyama and Tokyo
- 30 August, 2018 Preparations Continue to Remove Spent Nuclear Fuel from Unit 3 at Fukushima Daiichi
- 16 August, 2018 International Forum on Decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi Highlights Remotely-Operated Systems
- 26 July, 2018 J-Village Stadium to Revert to Original Role as Soccer Training Center, Having Contributed to the Stabilization of Fukushima Daiichi
- 20 July, 2018 ANRE to Hold Explanatory Meetings and Public Hearings on Handling of Tritium Water
- 15 June, 2018 Fukushima Daini NPPs to Be Decommissioned as Well
- 4 June, 2018 TEPCO Opens Up Space in Common Pool at Fukushima Daiichi to Receive Spent Fuel from Unit 3
- 9 May, 2018 [51st JAIF Annual Conference] Fukushima Session: Current State of Restoration in Fukushima
- 26 April, 2018 Fukushima Exported Record Level of Agricultural Products Last Year
- 27 March, 2018 Russia Lifts Bans on Marine Products from Japan; Those from Fukushima Still Require Additional Documentation
- 26 February, 2018 WTO Ruling Sides with Japan against South Korean Ban on Japanese Marine Products
- 22 February, 2018 We All Live Inside the “Boundary” of Fukushima
10 October, 2018
The Implications of Removing the “Sun Child” Statue in Fukushima
By Sae Ochi
At the end of August, a decision was made to remove a statue—named “Sun Child”—that had been erected in Fukushima after the tsunami-caused nuclear accident of March 11, 2011. The statue depicts a boy who wears a yellow protective suit but no helmet. Looking up at the sky, he has a monitor on his chest with the counter set at "000." Six meters tall, the statue has provoked strong reactions among those who have seen it.
The reason for its removal seems to be criticism from local residents. One person said, “It gives the impression that children used to wear protective suits back then.” Another resident commented, “It stokes fear that Fukushima has high levels of radiation.” Meanwhile, someone else remarked, “It would be impossible for the display to read ‘000’ since there is always some natural background radiation.”
It is not clear if any of those views represent a majority of public opinion. Indeed, many people in the prefecture, while voicing their understanding of the feelings of the statue’s critics, personally wanted the piece to remain. In the end, the decision was that it had to go as long as it hurt some residents’ feelings.
The issue inherent in this episode is not, I believe, whether Sun ...more
