Host nation Japan easily beat Australia as the sports programme at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics finally got underway with a softball game in disaster-wracked Fukushima on Wednesday.

Japan's 8-1 victory, in a sport returning to the Olympic fold for the first time since 2008, took place two days before the opening ceremony of the pandemic-delayed Games.

Spectators were absent under the stringent coronavirus measures in place for an Olympics that is facing widespread opposition from the public in Japan, where infections are rising.

Japan has had to wait 13 years to defend the title they won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and they dominated their Australian opponents in Fukushima, the site of the tsunami-triggered nuclear disaster in 2011.

Their toughest challenge is likely to come from the United States, which play Italy in the second game on Wednesday.

Host nation Japan easily beat Australia as the sports programme at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics finally got underway with a softball game in disaster-wracked Fukushima on Wednesday.

Host nation Japan easily beat Australia as the sports programme at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics finally got underway with a softball game in disaster-wracked Fukushima on Wednesday. Japan's 8-1 victory, in a sport returning to the Olympic fold for the first time since 2008, took place two days before the opening ceremony of the pandemic-delayed Games. Spectators were absent under the stringent coronavirus measures in place for an Olympics that is facing widespread opposition from the public in Japan, where infections are rising. Japan has had to wait 13 years to defend the title they won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and they dominated their Australian opponents in Fukushima, the site of the tsunami-triggered nuclear disaster in 2011. Their toughest challenge is likely to come from the United States, which play Italy in the second game on Wednesday.

Tokyo Olympics sports start with a softball game, Japan routs Australia 8-1

"Once people were gone, the boar took over," this is how a researcher at Fukushima University in Japan explains it.

Donovan Anderson’s genetic studies on the wild boar that now roam the location of the 2011 nuclear disaster reveal how the species has thrived since then.

According to his findings, the area is inhabited by a wild pig-boar hybrid. Using DNA samples, Anderson discovered that wild boar have bred with domestic pigs that escaped from farms&nbsp;to create this hybrid species.

"While the radiation hasn't caused a genetic effect, the invasive domestic pig species has," explains Anderson.

The biggest earthquake to hit Japan was behind this 2011 nuclear disaster at Fukushima's nuclear power plant.

An area similar to that of Chernobyl’s exclusion zone was evacuated after a gigantic wave surged over defences and flooded the nuclear reactors.

These findings have been published in a journal Proceedings B. Using DNA to track the legacy of a nuclear event, the&nbsp;study attempts to discover what happens to wild animals in a radiation-contaminated area, that was invaded by livestock as humans abandon it.

Examination of the DNA of this wild boar revealed what was termed as a "biological invasion" present in the boar's genes and a “dilution” over time in domestic pig genes.

Donovan Anderson says that "I think the pigs were not able to survive in the wild, but the boar thrived in the abandoned towns - because they're so robust,".

As he puts it, while the evacuation of the area was the origin of this cross-breeding, the hybrid pigs then went on to breed with the wild boars.

According to professor Shingo Kaneko from Fukushima University's Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, "Those invasive genes are disappearing, and the natural situation is coming back."

Since 2018, humans have started to move back into this previously abandoned area.

Anderson said, "Humans are really the only predators for these wild boars,"

"So as people come back, it'll be really interesting to see what the boar do."

&nbsp;

"Once people were gone, the boar took over," this is how a researcher at Fukushima University in Japan explains it. Donovan Anderson’s genetic studies on the wild boar that now roam the location of the 2011 nuclear disaster reveal how the species has thrived since then.

"Once people were gone, the boar took over," this is how a researcher at Fukushima University in Japan explains it. Donovan Anderson’s genetic studies on the wild boar that now roam the location of the 2011 nuclear disaster reveal how the species has thrived since then. According to his findings, the area is inhabited by a wild pig-boar hybrid. Using DNA samples, Anderson discovered that wild boar have bred with domestic pigs that escaped from farms to create this hybrid species. "While the radiation hasn't caused a genetic effect, the invasive domestic pig species has," explains Anderson. The biggest earthquake to hit Japan was behind this 2011 nuclear disaster at Fukushima's nuclear power plant. An area similar to that of Chernobyl’s exclusion zone was evacuated after a gigantic wave surged over defences and flooded the nuclear reactors. These findings have been published in a journal Proceedings B. Using DNA to track the legacy of a nuclear event, the study attempts to discover what happens to wild animals in a radiation-contaminated area, that was invaded by livestock as humans abandon it. Examination of the DNA of this wild boar revealed what was termed as a "biological invasion" present in the boar's genes and a “dilution” over time in domestic pig genes. Donovan Anderson says that "I think the pigs were not able to survive in the wild, but the boar thrived in the abandoned towns - because they're so robust,". As he puts it, while the evacuation of the area was the origin of this cross-breeding, the hybrid pigs then went on to breed with the wild boars. According to professor Shingo Kaneko from Fukushima University's Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, "Those invasive genes are disappearing, and the natural situation is coming back." Since 2018, humans have started to move back into this previously abandoned area. Anderson said, "Humans are really the only predators for these wild boars," "So as people come back, it'll be really interesting to see what the boar do."

Wild boar hybrids take over 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster site

South Korean fisheries associations filed a lawsuit against the&nbsp;Japanese government at a local court on Thursday, seeking compensation for the planned release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the Yonhap news agency reported.

The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives of Jeju Island and a shipowners' association told a news conference outside the Jeju District Court they were demanding about 10 million won ($8,800) per day from the&nbsp;Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings.

Local fishing communities worry that years of work to convince consumers that&nbsp;Fukushima's seafood is safe will be wiped out by the release.

Japan's government said in April it would release more than 1 million tonnes of treated water from the Fukushima site in stages starting in about two years.

Around 1.25 million tonnes of water has accumulated in tanks at the nuclear plant, which was crippled after going into meltdown following a tsunami in 2011.

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said that disposing of the water was an "inevitable task" in the decades-long process of decommissioning the nuclear plant.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has endorsed the release, which it says is similar to the disposal of waste water at nuclear plants elsewhere in the world.

Environmental groups like Greenpeace, which opposes nuclear power, say radioactive materials like carbon-14 that remain in the water can "be easily concentrated in the food chain".

They allege accumulated doses over time could damage DNA, and want to see the water stored until technology is developed to improve filtration.

(With inputs from agencies)

South Korean fisheries associations filed a lawsuit against the Japanese government at a local court on Thursday, seeking compensation for the planned release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korean fisheries associations filed a lawsuit against the Japanese government at a local court on Thursday, seeking compensation for the planned release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the Yonhap news agency reported. The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives of Jeju Island and a shipowners' association told a news conference outside the Jeju District Court they were demanding about 10 million won ($8,800) per day from the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings. Local fishing communities worry that years of work to convince consumers that Fukushima's seafood is safe will be wiped out by the release. Japan's government said in April it would release more than 1 million tonnes of treated water from the Fukushima site in stages starting in about two years. Around 1.25 million tonnes of water has accumulated in tanks at the nuclear plant, which was crippled after going into meltdown following a tsunami in 2011. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said that disposing of the water was an "inevitable task" in the decades-long process of decommissioning the nuclear plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has endorsed the release, which it says is similar to the disposal of waste water at nuclear plants elsewhere in the world. Environmental groups like Greenpeace, which opposes nuclear power, say radioactive materials like carbon-14 that remain in the water can "be easily concentrated in the food chain". They allege accumulated doses over time could damage DNA, and want to see the water stored until technology is developed to improve filtration. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korean fishermen sue Japanese government over Fukushima nuclear plant water

South Korea raised concerns over Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea with visiting US climate envoy John Kerry, its foreign ministry said, but Kerry reaffirmed Washington's confidence in the plan's transparency.&nbsp;

Kerry arrived in Seoul on Saturday to discuss international efforts to tackle global warming on a trip that included a stop in China ahead of President Joe Biden's virtual summit with world leaders on climate change on April 22 and 23.&nbsp;

South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong sought to rally support behind the country's protest against the Fukushima plan at a dinner meeting with Kerry, the ministry said. Under the plan, more than one million tonnes of water will be discharged from the plant wrecked by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 into the nearby sea off Japan's east coast.&nbsp;

Seoul strongly rebuked the decision, with the foreign ministry summoning the Japanese ambassador and President Moon Jae-in ordering officials to explore petitioning an international court. &nbsp;

"Minister Chung conveyed our government and people's serious concerns about Japan's decision, and asked the US side to take interest and cooperate so that Japan will provide information in a more transparent and speedy manner," the ministry said in a statement. &nbsp;

But Kerry, at a media roundtable on Sunday, said Tokyo had made the decision in a transparent manner and will continue following due procedures. &nbsp;

"The United States is confident that the government of Japan is in very full consultations with the IAEA," he said, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency. &nbsp;

"The IAEA has set up a very rigorous process and I know that Japan has weighed all the options and the effects and they've been very transparent about the decision and the process." &nbsp;

The former US secretary of state added that Washington would closely monitor Japan's implementation "like every country, to make certain there is no public health threat." &nbsp;

The South Korean foreign ministry said Chung and Kerry also agreed to work together to boost international cooperation to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, a goal pledged by South Korea, Europe and others.&nbsp;

Kerry told the roundtable that Biden aims to urge countries to commit to more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions targets, including China, such as by revamping their power initiatives or speeding up transitions to renewable energy.&nbsp;

The United States is expected to announce its own new emissions target for 2030 this week.&nbsp;

"I think Korea has set an ambitious target and Korea is trying to do a lot, it's not easy for any country," Kerry said. "We need to be smarter, so do I think it’s possible for additional steps? I do think there are some things that could happen."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

South Korea raised concerns over Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea with visiting US climate envoy John Kerry, its foreign ministry said, but Kerry reaffirmed Washington's confidence in the plan's transparency.

South Korea raised concerns over Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea with visiting US climate envoy John Kerry, its foreign ministry said, but Kerry reaffirmed Washington's confidence in the plan's transparency. Kerry arrived in Seoul on Saturday to discuss international efforts to tackle global warming on a trip that included a stop in China ahead of President Joe Biden's virtual summit with world leaders on climate change on April 22 and 23. South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong sought to rally support behind the country's protest against the Fukushima plan at a dinner meeting with Kerry, the ministry said. Under the plan, more than one million tonnes of water will be discharged from the plant wrecked by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 into the nearby sea off Japan's east coast. Seoul strongly rebuked the decision, with the foreign ministry summoning the Japanese ambassador and President Moon Jae-in ordering officials to explore petitioning an international court. "Minister Chung conveyed our government and people's serious concerns about Japan's decision, and asked the US side to take interest and cooperate so that Japan will provide information in a more transparent and speedy manner," the ministry said in a statement. But Kerry, at a media roundtable on Sunday, said Tokyo had made the decision in a transparent manner and will continue following due procedures. "The United States is confident that the government of Japan is in very full consultations with the IAEA," he said, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency. "The IAEA has set up a very rigorous process and I know that Japan has weighed all the options and the effects and they've been very transparent about the decision and the process." The former US secretary of state added that Washington would closely monitor Japan's implementation "like every country, to make certain there is no public health threat." The South Korean foreign ministry said Chung and Kerry also agreed to work together to boost international cooperation to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, a goal pledged by South Korea, Europe and others. Kerry told the roundtable that Biden aims to urge countries to commit to more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions targets, including China, such as by revamping their power initiatives or speeding up transitions to renewable energy. The United States is expected to announce its own new emissions target for 2030 this week. "I think Korea has set an ambitious target and Korea is trying to do a lot, it's not easy for any country," Kerry said. "We need to be smarter, so do I think it’s possible for additional steps? I do think there are some things that could happen." (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea, US show differences over Japan government's Fukushima plans 

Japan has decided to release contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.

Japan’s Fukushima Water Release: Japan to dump the wastewater into the sea

The war of words between China and Japan is escalating. It is playing out on two fronts. The first is the Senkaku Islands. This is a string of uninhabited islands claimed by both Beijing and&nbsp;Tokyo. China calls these island Diaoyu islands.

China's provocations haven't ended. Japan is determined to stop them. The second front is the Fukushima nuclear plant and Japan's decision to release radioactive water from the plant into the Ocean.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-preaches-japan-about-responsibility-377835/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

American allies like Taiwan and&nbsp;South Korea are vehemently opposing it. China sees this as an opportunity to further its own agenda.

In 1968, Japan established a defence identification zone over these islands. This was like an extra buffer to safeguard its territorial sovereignty.

In 2013, China declared its own defence identification zone. It overlaps Japan's.

China uses this zone to justify its expansionism. Under Chinese rules, any aircraft or vessel entering the zone must notify Beijing. Beijing's military adventurism worsened with the pandemic.

In March 2020, China's maritime militia damaged a Japanese naval ship.

In July 2020, Chinese vessels entered Japan's zone for the longest duration since 2012.

In September 2020, Chinese boats collided with Japanese patrolling vessels.

In October 2020, the Chinese Navy forced Japanese fishing boats to leave the area. And just last month, two Chinese ships again carried out an illegal intrusion near the Senkaku islands.

The provocations are endless.

There are growing concerns that China could step up armament and establish a military base on the islands. Adding to these concerns is China's coast guard law which came into force on February 1st. The law encourages China's coast guard to 'take all necessary measures including the use of weapons to stop the violation and eliminate the danger'. With this law, Xi Jinping has told his coast guard to be wolf warriors at sea and use force -- lethal force -- to assert Chinese interests.

Japan, along with the US, has expressed concerns over the law. As Yoshihide Suga heads to Washington on Friday, Chinese aggression, the new coast guard law and the Senkaku islands will be at&nbsp;top of the agenda.

"This will be our first in-person visit from a foreign leader in the Biden-Harris administration, reflecting the importance we place on our bilateral relationship with Japan, and our friendship and partnership with the Japanese people," said Jen Psaki, press secretary of the White House.

The talks might also feature a controversial topic; Japan's plan to release radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.

Washington has backed Tokyo saying the release will be in accordance with nuclear safety standards. But American partners like South Korea and Taiwan are strongly opposing Japan's plan. Both nations with coastlines nearby say that the move poses a risk to the marine environment.

China is trying to make the most of this disagreement between the three democracies. Beijing is calling Japan irresponsible. Its own environmental recklessness notwithstanding.

"Yesterday, the China-South Korea maritime affairs dialogue and (cooperation) mechanism held its first meeting. Both sides urged japan to carefully and cautiously handle the Fukushima nuclear wastewater issue after ample consultation with international mechanisms and surrounding countries," said Zhao Lijian, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman.

The timing of this war of words is significant. US climate envoy John Kerry is in Shanghai to discuss climate action. By all means, China will use Japan's Fukushima water release plan as a bargaining chip in the negotiations.

The war of words between China and Japan is escalating. It is playing out on two fronts. The first is the Senkaku Islands. This is a string of uninhabited islands claimed by both Beijing and Tokyo.

The war of words between China and Japan is escalating. It is playing out on two fronts. The first is the Senkaku Islands. This is a string of uninhabited islands claimed by both Beijing and Tokyo. China calls these island Diaoyu islands. China's provocations haven't ended. Japan is determined to stop them. The second front is the Fukushima nuclear plant and Japan's decision to release radioactive water from the plant into the Ocean. American allies like Taiwan and South Korea are vehemently opposing it. China sees this as an opportunity to further its own agenda. In 1968, Japan established a defence identification zone over these islands. This was like an extra buffer to safeguard its territorial sovereignty. In 2013, China declared its own defence identification zone. It overlaps Japan's. China uses this zone to justify its expansionism. Under Chinese rules, any aircraft or vessel entering the zone must notify Beijing. Beijing's military adventurism worsened with the pandemic. In March 2020, China's maritime militia damaged a Japanese naval ship. In July 2020, Chinese vessels entered Japan's zone for the longest duration since 2012. In September 2020, Chinese boats collided with Japanese patrolling vessels. In October 2020, the Chinese Navy forced Japanese fishing boats to leave the area. And just last month, two Chinese ships again carried out an illegal intrusion near the Senkaku islands. The provocations are endless. There are growing concerns that China could step up armament and establish a military base on the islands. Adding to these concerns is China's coast guard law which came into force on February 1st. The law encourages China's coast guard to 'take all necessary measures including the use of weapons to stop the violation and eliminate the danger'. With this law, Xi Jinping has told his coast guard to be wolf warriors at sea and use force -- lethal force -- to assert Chinese interests. Japan, along with the US, has expressed concerns over the law. As Yoshihide Suga heads to Washington on Friday, Chinese aggression, the new coast guard law and the Senkaku islands will be at top of the agenda. "This will be our first in-person visit from a foreign leader in the Biden-Harris administration, reflecting the importance we place on our bilateral relationship with Japan, and our friendship and partnership with the Japanese people," said Jen Psaki, press secretary of the White House. The talks might also feature a controversial topic; Japan's plan to release radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. Washington has backed Tokyo saying the release will be in accordance with nuclear safety standards. But American partners like South Korea and Taiwan are strongly opposing Japan's plan. Both nations with coastlines nearby say that the move poses a risk to the marine environment. China is trying to make the most of this disagreement between the three democracies. Beijing is calling Japan irresponsible. Its own environmental recklessness notwithstanding. "Yesterday, the China-South Korea maritime affairs dialogue and (cooperation) mechanism held its first meeting. Both sides urged japan to carefully and cautiously handle the Fukushima nuclear wastewater issue after ample consultation with international mechanisms and surrounding countries," said Zhao Lijian, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman. The timing of this war of words is significant. US climate envoy John Kerry is in Shanghai to discuss climate action. By all means, China will use Japan's Fukushima water release plan as a bargaining chip in the negotiations.

War of words between Japan and China escalates

South Korea will challenge Japan’s decision to release treated water from Fukushima nuclear reactor. President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday urged officials to explore the options of moving an international court to prevent Japan from releasing radioactive water from the Fukushima plant into the ocean.&nbsp;

Since Japan announced the plan to release the water, environmental and fisheries groups have protested against the decision.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-legacy-of-fukushima-nuclear-disaster-369806/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On Tuesday, Japan announced plans to release over 1 million tonnes of contaminated water into the ocean from Fukushima, which was hit by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Over the last few years, Japan has filtered the water to remove harmful isotopes.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/japanese-government-approves-plan-to-release-treated-water-from-fukushima-nuclear-reactor-into-sea-377178" hreflang="en">Japanese government approves plan to release treated water from Fukushima nuclear reactor into sea</a>

Reuters reported that South Korea strongly rejects the move, and has summoned the Japanese ambassador in South Korea Koichi Aiboshi.&nbsp; In addition, the country has also convened an emergency meeting of government agencies to carve out a response.

On Wednesday, Moon suggested looking into options to take Japan to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, according to his spokesperson Kang Min-seek.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/ten-years-after-fukushima-disaster-this-nurse-may-be-the-regions-best-hope-369916" hreflang="en">Ten years after Fukushima disaster, this nurse may be the region’s best hope</a>

Aiboshi arrived in South Korea as the ambassador in February. "I cannot but say that there are much concerns here about the decision as a country that is geologically closest and shares the sea with Japan," Moon told Aiboshi, as claimed by Reuters.

(With inputs from agencies)

South Korea will challenge Japan’s decision to release treated water from Fukushima nuclear reactor. President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday urged officials to explore the options of moving an international court to prevent Japan from releasing radioactive water from the Fukushima plant into the ocean.

South Korea will challenge Japan’s decision to release treated water from Fukushima nuclear reactor. President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday urged officials to explore the options of moving an international court to prevent Japan from releasing radioactive water from the Fukushima plant into the ocean. Since Japan announced the plan to release the water, environmental and fisheries groups have protested against the decision. On Tuesday, Japan announced plans to release over 1 million tonnes of contaminated water into the ocean from Fukushima, which was hit by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Over the last few years, Japan has filtered the water to remove harmful isotopes. Also read: Japanese government approves plan to release treated water from Fukushima nuclear reactor into sea Reuters reported that South Korea strongly rejects the move, and has summoned the Japanese ambassador in South Korea Koichi Aiboshi. In addition, the country has also convened an emergency meeting of government agencies to carve out a response. On Wednesday, Moon suggested looking into options to take Japan to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, according to his spokesperson Kang Min-seek. Also read: Ten years after Fukushima disaster, this nurse may be the region’s best hope Aiboshi arrived in South Korea as the ambassador in February. "I cannot but say that there are much concerns here about the decision as a country that is geologically closest and shares the sea with Japan," Moon told Aiboshi, as claimed by Reuters. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea to challenge Japan's plans to release contaminated Fukushima water into sea

Japan will release 1.25 million tons of treated wastewater contaminated by its Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant into the sea. But the local fishing industry has strongly opposed the move, as have China and South Korea.

Japan to release contaminated Fukushima water into sea

Japan's government on Tuesday approved a plan to release more than one million tonnes of treated water from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, in a controversial decision that follows years of debate.

The move, more than a decade after the nuclear disaster, will deal another blow to the fishing industry in Fukushima, which has opposed such a step for years.

The work to release the water will begin in about two years, the government said, and the whole process is expected to take decades.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-japan-to-dump-radioactive-water-in-the-sea-335916/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"On the premise of strict compliance with regulatory standards that have been established, we select oceanic release," the government said in a statement after relevant ministers formalised the decision.

Japan's government argues that the release will be safe because the water is processed to remove almost all radioactive elements and will be diluted.

It has support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which says the release is similar to processes for disposing of wastewater from nuclear plants elsewhere in the world.

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide&nbsp;Suga&nbsp;told a ministerial meeting that disposing of the water was an "inevitable task" in the decades-long process of decommissioning the nuclear plant.

He said the release would happen only "after ensuring the safety levels of the water" and alongside measures to "prevent reputational damage".

Around 1.25 million tonnes of water has accumulated in tanks at the nuclear plant, which was crippled after going into meltdown following a tsunami in 2011.

It includes water used to cool the plant, as well as rain and groundwater that seeps in daily.

An extensive pumping and filtration system known as "ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System)" extracts tonnes of newly contaminated water each day and filters out most radioactive elements.

But local fishing communities fear releasing the water will undermine years of work to restore confidence in seafood from the region.

"They told us that they wouldn't release the water into the sea without the support of fishermen," Kanji Tachiya, who heads a local fisheries cooperative in Fukushima, told NHK ahead of the announcement.

"We can't back this move to break that promise and release the water into the sea unilaterally."

The decision comes about three months ahead of the postponed Olympic Games to be hosted by Tokyo, with some events planned as close as 60 km (35 miles) from the wrecked plant.

The decision also prompted regional opposition even before it was official, with South Korea's foreign minister on Monday expressing "serious regret".

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian urged Japan to "act in a responsible manner".

"To safeguard international public interests and Chinese people's health and safety, China has expressed grave concern to the Japanese side through the diplomatic channel," Zhao said Monday.

The disposal of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power, has proved a thorny problem for Japan as it pursues a decades-long decommissioning project.

Greenpeace slams decision

Around 140 cubic metres (5,000 cubic feet) of radioactive water was generated by the site every day in 2020 and storage space will run out by summer 2022.

Debate over how to handle the water has dragged on for years, with the government saying it wanted to win support from local communities and secure backing from the IAEA.

A government panel earlier endorsed either diluting the treated water and releasing it into the ocean or releasing it as vapour, and the IAEA says either option is acceptable.

"Releasing into the ocean is done elsewhere. It's not something new. There is no scandal here," IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said last year.

Either method would be "in line with well-established practices all around the world", he added.

Anti-nuclear activist group Greenpeace slammed Japan's government for having "once again failed the people of Fukushima".

"The cabinet's decision failed to protect the environment and neglected the large-scale opposition and concerns of the local Fukushima residents, as well as the neighbouring citizens around Japan," said climate and energy campaigner Kazue Suzuki in a statement.

The ALPS filtration process removes most radioactive elements from the water, but some remain, including tritium.

Experts say the element is only harmful to humans in large doses and with dilution the treated water poses no scientifically detectable risk.

(With inputs froma agencies)

Japan's government on Tuesday approved a plan to release more than one million tonnes of treated water from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, in a controversial decision that follows years of debate.

Japan's government on Tuesday approved a plan to release more than one million tonnes of treated water from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, in a controversial decision that follows years of debate. The move, more than a decade after the nuclear disaster, will deal another blow to the fishing industry in Fukushima, which has opposed such a step for years. The work to release the water will begin in about two years, the government said, and the whole process is expected to take decades. "On the premise of strict compliance with regulatory standards that have been established, we select oceanic release," the government said in a statement after relevant ministers formalised the decision. Japan's government argues that the release will be safe because the water is processed to remove almost all radioactive elements and will be diluted. It has support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which says the release is similar to processes for disposing of wastewater from nuclear plants elsewhere in the world. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told a ministerial meeting that disposing of the water was an "inevitable task" in the decades-long process of decommissioning the nuclear plant. He said the release would happen only "after ensuring the safety levels of the water" and alongside measures to "prevent reputational damage". Around 1.25 million tonnes of water has accumulated in tanks at the nuclear plant, which was crippled after going into meltdown following a tsunami in 2011. It includes water used to cool the plant, as well as rain and groundwater that seeps in daily. An extensive pumping and filtration system known as "ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System)" extracts tonnes of newly contaminated water each day and filters out most radioactive elements. But local fishing communities fear releasing the water will undermine years of work to restore confidence in seafood from the region. "They told us that they wouldn't release the water into the sea without the support of fishermen," Kanji Tachiya, who heads a local fisheries cooperative in Fukushima, told NHK ahead of the announcement. "We can't back this move to break that promise and release the water into the sea unilaterally." The decision comes about three months ahead of the postponed Olympic Games to be hosted by Tokyo, with some events planned as close as 60 km (35 miles) from the wrecked plant. The decision also prompted regional opposition even before it was official, with South Korea's foreign minister on Monday expressing "serious regret". Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian urged Japan to "act in a responsible manner". "To safeguard international public interests and Chinese people's health and safety, China has expressed grave concern to the Japanese side through the diplomatic channel," Zhao said Monday. The disposal of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power, has proved a thorny problem for Japan as it pursues a decades-long decommissioning project. Greenpeace slams decision Around 140 cubic metres (5,000 cubic feet) of radioactive water was generated by the site every day in 2020 and storage space will run out by summer 2022. Debate over how to handle the water has dragged on for years, with the government saying it wanted to win support from local communities and secure backing from the IAEA. A government panel earlier endorsed either diluting the treated water and releasing it into the ocean or releasing it as vapour, and the IAEA says either option is acceptable. "Releasing into the ocean is done elsewhere. It's not something new. There is no scandal here," IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said last year. Either method would be "in line with well-established practices all around the world", he added. Anti-nuclear activist group Greenpeace slammed Japan's government for having "once again failed the people of Fukushima". "The cabinet's decision failed to protect the environment and neglected the large-scale opposition and concerns of the local Fukushima residents, as well as the neighbouring citizens around Japan," said climate and energy campaigner Kazue Suzuki in a statement. The ALPS filtration process removes most radioactive elements from the water, but some remain, including tritium. Experts say the element is only harmful to humans in large doses and with dilution the treated water poses no scientifically detectable risk. (With inputs froma agencies)

Japanese government approves plan to release treated water from Fukushima nuclear reactor into sea

The Olympic torch relay set off from Fukushima on Thursday, beginning a four-month countdown to the Summer Games in Tokyo, delayed from 2020 and the first-ever organised during a global pandemic.

Casting a pall over celebrations, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles before the relay began.

About 10,000 runners will carry the torch across Japan`s 47 prefectures and far-flung islands, starting from the site of the 2011 quake and tsunami that killed about 20,000 people and sent tens of thousands fleeing radioactive plumes.

"For the past year, as the entire world underwent a difficult period, the Olympic flame was kept alive quietly but powerfully," Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said at the opening ceremony, which was closed to spectators.

"The small flame did not lose hope, and just like the cherry blossom buds that are ready to bloom, it was waiting for this day," Hashimoto said.

After the North Korean missile launch, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga assured reporters the national government was cooperating with Tokyo and the International Olympic Committee to host a secure Games.

"We will do our utmost in terms of coronavirus measures and continue to work with related areas to contain the spread of infections and hope to work towards a safe and secure Games," Suga said.

Japan has fared better than most countries during the pandemic, with fewer than 9,000 coronavirus deaths, but Tokyo reported 420 cases on Wednesday, the highest single-day figure this month.

The majority of the public is against the Olympics being held as scheduled, polls show.

NO CROWDS OR CHEERING

The relay, which will culminate with the Olympic opening ceremony on July 23, has been hit by several high-profile runner cancellations as celebrities and top-level athletes have pulled out, citing late notice and worries over the pandemic.

The starting ceremony was held at J-Village in Fukushima, a sports complex converted for several years into a staging ground for workers decommissioning the crippled nuclear power plant.

"For the torch relay viewing, please ensure you are wearing a mask, keep a proper distance, don`t stand close to each other and support with things like clapping, instead of using a loud voice," an announcer at the site said.

The brief and solemn ceremony - originally planned for thousands of fans as a celebration of Japan`s recovery - was closed to the public.

It featured several low-key events, including a drum concert and dance performances by a group of residents from Fukushima, followed by a children`s choir.

Members of the Japanese national women`s soccer team used the Olympic flame, flown in from Greece last year, to light the torch.

The runners, some wearing masks and white uniforms decorated with red ran out of J-Village and passed on the flame to the next runner. About a dozen staff escorted the runner, racing together and following a van guiding the relay.

"I’m convinced that, under this coronavirus pandemic, the Olympics will surely bring courage and vigour to people in east Japan, where recovery is still halfway through," Norio Sasaki, coach of the women`s soccer team that won the 2011 World Cup, said after running the first leg of the relay.

Television helicopters followed the run and the number of roadside spectators, waving Olympic flags, increased as the day went on. But they were masked and kept apart.

Organisers have said that the relay will skip areas that are too crowded, or pause until people disperse.

'YOU MUST BE JOKING'

"Fukushima`s recovery is going steadily," Fukushima governor Masao Uchibori said at the launch ceremony.

"But there are still many people who can`t return to their homes, and many difficult issues such as reviving these areas, rebuilding the lives of their residents," he said.

The torch will travel through some of the worst-hit areas first.

Japan has spent nearly $300 billion to revive the region, but many locals are apprehensive about the Games, as areas in Fukushima remain off-limits, worries about radiation linger and many who left have settled elsewhere. Decommissioning will take up to a century and cost billions of dollars.

A protester driving a silver van near the relay shouted over a loudspeaker, questioning how the Olympics could contribute to the region`s recovery.

"You must be joking," the man yelled. "Everyone knows we can`t have the Olympics," he shouted.

The organisers insist the Olympics will go ahead, but doctors and nurses have complained about the strain on hospitals and experts warn about the spread of virus variants.

Adding to the challenge, Japan was the last of the Group of Seven industrialised nations to launch a vaccine drive. Only 700,000 people have been inoculated so far, most of the medical workers.

The Olympic torch relay set off from Fukushima on Thursday, beginning a four-month countdown to the Summer Games in Tokyo, delayed from 2020 and the first-ever organised during a global pandemic.

The Olympic torch relay set off from Fukushima on Thursday, beginning a four-month countdown to the Summer Games in Tokyo, delayed from 2020 and the first-ever organised during a global pandemic. Casting a pall over celebrations, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles before the relay began. About 10,000 runners will carry the torch across Japan`s 47 prefectures and far-flung islands, starting from the site of the 2011 quake and tsunami that killed about 20,000 people and sent tens of thousands fleeing radioactive plumes. "For the past year, as the entire world underwent a difficult period, the Olympic flame was kept alive quietly but powerfully," Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said at the opening ceremony, which was closed to spectators. "The small flame did not lose hope, and just like the cherry blossom buds that are ready to bloom, it was waiting for this day," Hashimoto said. After the North Korean missile launch, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga assured reporters the national government was cooperating with Tokyo and the International Olympic Committee to host a secure Games. "We will do our utmost in terms of coronavirus measures and continue to work with related areas to contain the spread of infections and hope to work towards a safe and secure Games," Suga said. Japan has fared better than most countries during the pandemic, with fewer than 9,000 coronavirus deaths, but Tokyo reported 420 cases on Wednesday, the highest single-day figure this month. The majority of the public is against the Olympics being held as scheduled, polls show. NO CROWDS OR CHEERING The relay, which will culminate with the Olympic opening ceremony on July 23, has been hit by several high-profile runner cancellations as celebrities and top-level athletes have pulled out, citing late notice and worries over the pandemic. The starting ceremony was held at J-Village in Fukushima, a sports complex converted for several years into a staging ground for workers decommissioning the crippled nuclear power plant. "For the torch relay viewing, please ensure you are wearing a mask, keep a proper distance, don`t stand close to each other and support with things like clapping, instead of using a loud voice," an announcer at the site said. The brief and solemn ceremony - originally planned for thousands of fans as a celebration of Japan`s recovery - was closed to the public. It featured several low-key events, including a drum concert and dance performances by a group of residents from Fukushima, followed by a children`s choir. Members of the Japanese national women`s soccer team used the Olympic flame, flown in from Greece last year, to light the torch. The runners, some wearing masks and white uniforms decorated with red ran out of J-Village and passed on the flame to the next runner. About a dozen staff escorted the runner, racing together and following a van guiding the relay. "I’m convinced that, under this coronavirus pandemic, the Olympics will surely bring courage and vigour to people in east Japan, where recovery is still halfway through," Norio Sasaki, coach of the women`s soccer team that won the 2011 World Cup, said after running the first leg of the relay. Television helicopters followed the run and the number of roadside spectators, waving Olympic flags, increased as the day went on. But they were masked and kept apart. Organisers have said that the relay will skip areas that are too crowded, or pause until people disperse. 'YOU MUST BE JOKING' "Fukushima`s recovery is going steadily," Fukushima governor Masao Uchibori said at the launch ceremony. "But there are still many people who can`t return to their homes, and many difficult issues such as reviving these areas, rebuilding the lives of their residents," he said. The torch will travel through some of the worst-hit areas first. Japan has spent nearly $300 billion to revive the region, but many locals are apprehensive about the Games, as areas in Fukushima remain off-limits, worries about radiation linger and many who left have settled elsewhere. Decommissioning will take up to a century and cost billions of dollars. A protester driving a silver van near the relay shouted over a loudspeaker, questioning how the Olympics could contribute to the region`s recovery. "You must be joking," the man yelled. "Everyone knows we can`t have the Olympics," he shouted. The organisers insist the Olympics will go ahead, but doctors and nurses have complained about the strain on hospitals and experts warn about the spread of virus variants. Adding to the challenge, Japan was the last of the Group of Seven industrialised nations to launch a vaccine drive. Only 700,000 people have been inoculated so far, most of the medical workers.

Olympics torch relay starts in Fukushima as North Korea launches missiles

Ten years on, Japan mourns victims of earthquake and Fukushima disaster

Decade after one of world's worst nuclear disasters, what is happening in Fukushima?

A decade after the quake and tsunami, people in the Japanese town of Tomioka ravaged by the Fukushima nuclear disaster are recounting what happened back in 2011.

Some parts, houses and shops lie abandoned, and bin bags filled with contaminated soil line the streets.&nbsp;

There is one Yuta Hatakeyama, who was 14 when his family had to leave their home. For him, the town evokes bittersweet memories.

Hatakeyama remembers the 2011 days in the town.

"When I moved to a new place and heard people there stigmatising us for being evacuated, my heart really ached," he says.

The 24-year-old now believes the town must get rid of the bags filled with radioactive waste and make the town more liveable.&nbsp;

Tomioka, which used to have 16,000 residents before the disaster, is now home to 1,600 people. The town is planning to lift most of its no-go zones by March 2023.&nbsp;

A decade after the quake and tsunami, people in the Japanese town of Tomioka ravaged by the Fukushima nuclear disaster are recounting what happened back in 2011.

A decade after the quake and tsunami, people in the Japanese town of Tomioka ravaged by the Fukushima nuclear disaster are recounting what happened back in 2011. Some parts, houses and shops lie abandoned, and bin bags filled with contaminated soil line the streets. There is one Yuta Hatakeyama, who was 14 when his family had to leave their home. For him, the town evokes bittersweet memories. Hatakeyama remembers the 2011 days in the town. "When I moved to a new place and heard people there stigmatising us for being evacuated, my heart really ached," he says. The 24-year-old now believes the town must get rid of the bags filled with radioactive waste and make the town more liveable. Tomioka, which used to have 16,000 residents before the disaster, is now home to 1,600 people. The town is planning to lift most of its no-go zones by March 2023.

A survivor recounts the 2011 Fukushima disaster

The Japanese town of Tomioka – ravaged by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster – is a shell of its former self. In some parts, houses and shops lie abandoned, and bin bags filled with contaminated soil line the streets. For Yuta Hatakeyama, who was 14 when his family had to leave their home, the town evokes bittersweet memories.

Decade after Fukushima disaster survivor looks back | Tomioka just 10 km from wrecked nuclear plant

Farmers of Fukushima has shifted to the process of Indigo and its dyeing. According to the farmers, the process of dyeing is proportionate to the healing process, also it was a 2011 disaster when farming was banned in Fukushima.

Japan: Fukushima farmers turn to Indigo to 'heal'

Cooling water levels have fallen in two reactors at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant since a powerful earthquake hit the area last weekend, indicating possible additional damage, its operator said on Friday.&nbsp;

New damage could further complicate the plant's already difficult decommissioning process, which is expected to take decades.&nbsp;

Tokyo Electric Power Co spokesman Keisuke Matsuo said the drop in water levels in the unit one and three reactors indicates that the existing damage to their primary containment chambers was worsened by Saturday's magnitude 7.3 quake, allowing more water to leak.&nbsp;

The leaked water is believed to have remained inside the reactor buildings and there is no sign of any outside impact, he said.&nbsp;

In 2011, a powerful magnitude 9.1 earthquake and tsunami damaged the Fukushima plant's cooling systems, causing three reactor cores to melt and nuclear fuel to fall to the bottom of their primary containment vessels.&nbsp;

TEPCO will monitor the water and temperatures at the bottom of the containment vessels, Matsuo said.&nbsp;

Since the 2011 disaster, cooling water has been escaping constantly from the damaged primary containment vessels into the basements of the reactor buildings.&nbsp;

To make up for the loss, additional cooling water has been pumped into the reactors to cool the melted fuel remaining inside them. The recent decline in the water levels indicates that more water than before is leaking out, TEPCO said.&nbsp;

More than 180 people received mostly minor injuries from Saturday's earthquake, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. The quake also triggered landslides, damaged homes and a high-speed train line, and caused widespread power and water supply disruptions.&nbsp;

TEPCO initially reported that there was no abnormality at the plant from Saturday's quake.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Tokyo High Court on Friday held the government as well as TEPCO accountable for the 2011 nuclear disaster, ordering both to pay about 280 million yen (USD 2.6 million) in compensation to more than 40 plaintiffs forced to evacuate to Chiba, near Tokyo, for their lost livelihoods and homes.&nbsp;

Friday's decision reverses an earlier ruling by the Chiba district court that excluded the government from responsibility. Judge Yukio Shirai said the government could have foreseen the risk of a massive tsunami and taken measures after a long-term assessment in 2002 of seismic activities.&nbsp;

Cooling water levels have fallen in two reactors at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant since a powerful earthquake hit the area last weekend, indicating possible additional damage, its operator said on Friday.

Cooling water levels have fallen in two reactors at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant since a powerful earthquake hit the area last weekend, indicating possible additional damage, its operator said on Friday. New damage could further complicate the plant's already difficult decommissioning process, which is expected to take decades. Tokyo Electric Power Co spokesman Keisuke Matsuo said the drop in water levels in the unit one and three reactors indicates that the existing damage to their primary containment chambers was worsened by Saturday's magnitude 7.3 quake, allowing more water to leak. The leaked water is believed to have remained inside the reactor buildings and there is no sign of any outside impact, he said. In 2011, a powerful magnitude 9.1 earthquake and tsunami damaged the Fukushima plant's cooling systems, causing three reactor cores to melt and nuclear fuel to fall to the bottom of their primary containment vessels. TEPCO will monitor the water and temperatures at the bottom of the containment vessels, Matsuo said. Since the 2011 disaster, cooling water has been escaping constantly from the damaged primary containment vessels into the basements of the reactor buildings. To make up for the loss, additional cooling water has been pumped into the reactors to cool the melted fuel remaining inside them. The recent decline in the water levels indicates that more water than before is leaking out, TEPCO said. More than 180 people received mostly minor injuries from Saturday's earthquake, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. The quake also triggered landslides, damaged homes and a high-speed train line, and caused widespread power and water supply disruptions. TEPCO initially reported that there was no abnormality at the plant from Saturday's quake. Meanwhile, the Tokyo High Court on Friday held the government as well as TEPCO accountable for the 2011 nuclear disaster, ordering both to pay about 280 million yen (USD 2.6 million) in compensation to more than 40 plaintiffs forced to evacuate to Chiba, near Tokyo, for their lost livelihoods and homes. Friday's decision reverses an earlier ruling by the Chiba district court that excluded the government from responsibility. Judge Yukio Shirai said the government could have foreseen the risk of a massive tsunami and taken measures after a long-term assessment in 2002 of seismic activities.

Water leaks indicate new damage at Fukushima nuclear plant

The release of Fukushima's contaminated water can damage human DNA, according to the latest report by a non-governmental organisation&nbsp;Greenpeace.

According to the publication of the report 'Stemming the tide 2020: The reality of the Fukushima radioactive water crisis', contaminated water that will reportedly be released into the sea from the wrecked Fukushima&nbsp;Daiichi nuclear plant&nbsp;contains a radioactive substance that has the potential to damage human DNA, a Greenpeace investigation has said.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-to-release-radioactive-water-from-fukushima-nuclear-plant-into-sea-report-335626">Japan to release radioactive water from Fukushima nuclear plant into sea: Report</a>

The environmental group claims the 1.23 million&nbsp;tonnes of water stored in more than 1,000 tanks at the plant contains “dangerous” levels of the radioactive isotope carbon-14, in addition to quantities of tritium that have already been widely reported.

The publication of the report stemming the tide 2020: the reality of the fukushima radioactive water crisis comes days after japanese media reported that the government was close to giving its approval to release the water into the pacific ocean, despite objections from local fishermen who say the move will destroy their livelihoods.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Wednesday that he is aiming to make a speedy decision on the disposal of contaminated water at the tsunami-crippled&nbsp;Fukushima&nbsp;nuclear plant.

"I think we can't hold off making a decision on the policy forever. We will take responsibility as the government to make a decision on how to dispose (the contaminated water) as soon as possible," said Suga.

Suga was speaking at a news conference in Jakarta at the end of his first foreign trip, during which he also visited Vietnam.

While most attention has been focused on tritium,&nbsp;which cannot be removed by the on-site filtration system used by the plant’s operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings [TEPCO] – Greenpeace Japan and Greenpeace east Asia said that radioactive carbon contained in the stored water would also be discharged.

Carbon-14 has a half life of 5,370 years and becomes “incorporated into all living matter”, the report said.

“It concentrates in fish at a level thousands of times higher than tritium. Carbon-14 is especially important as a major contributor to collective human radiation dose and has the potential to damage human DNA.”

The release of Fukushima's contaminated water can damage human DNA, according to the latest report by a non-governmental organisation Greenpeace. According to the publication of the report 'Stemming the tide 2020: The reality of the Fukushima radioactive water crisis', contaminated water that will reportedly be released into the sea from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant contains a radioactive substance that has the potential to damage human DNA, a Greenpeace investigation has said.

The release of Fukushima's contaminated water can damage human DNA, according to the latest report by a non-governmental organisation Greenpeace. According to the publication of the report 'Stemming the tide 2020: The reality of the Fukushima radioactive water crisis', contaminated water that will reportedly be released into the sea from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant contains a radioactive substance that has the potential to damage human DNA, a Greenpeace investigation has said. Also read| Japan to release radioactive water from Fukushima nuclear plant into sea: Report The environmental group claims the 1.23 million tonnes of water stored in more than 1,000 tanks at the plant contains “dangerous” levels of the radioactive isotope carbon-14, in addition to quantities of tritium that have already been widely reported. The publication of the report stemming the tide 2020: the reality of the fukushima radioactive water crisis comes days after japanese media reported that the government was close to giving its approval to release the water into the pacific ocean, despite objections from local fishermen who say the move will destroy their livelihoods. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Wednesday that he is aiming to make a speedy decision on the disposal of contaminated water at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. "I think we can't hold off making a decision on the policy forever. We will take responsibility as the government to make a decision on how to dispose (the contaminated water) as soon as possible," said Suga. Suga was speaking at a news conference in Jakarta at the end of his first foreign trip, during which he also visited Vietnam. While most attention has been focused on tritium, which cannot be removed by the on-site filtration system used by the plant’s operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings [TEPCO] – Greenpeace Japan and Greenpeace east Asia said that radioactive carbon contained in the stored water would also be discharged. Carbon-14 has a half life of 5,370 years and becomes “incorporated into all living matter”, the report said. “It concentrates in fish at a level thousands of times higher than tritium. Carbon-14 is especially important as a major contributor to collective human radiation dose and has the potential to damage human DNA.”

Release of Fukushima's contaminated water can damage human DNA

According to the Japananese media reports, the government has decided to release radioactive water from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-could-release-fukushima-radioactive-water-into-environment-269984">Fukushima</a> nuclear plant into the sea.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-fukushima-plant-a-million-tonne-headache-radioactive-water-253979">Also Read:&nbsp;At Fukushima plant, a million-tonne headache: radioactive water</a>

The Fukushima nuclear plant was destroyed when tsumai and earthquake had hit the country in 2011.&nbsp;

According to Japanes media, the Japanese government will make formal announcement this month.

"Decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi plant is a major premise for a restoration in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-court-acquits-energy-bosses-over-fukushima-disaster-250636">Fukushima</a> from the nuclear disaster. To prevent any delays in the decommissioning process, we need to make a decision quickly," Japanese industry minister Hiroshi Kajiyama said.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc has collected over one million tonnes of contaminated water with tritium being the matter of concern for environmentalists. The Japanese government is set to start the operations in 2022, reports say.

The Japanese government's reported move was resisted by the fish industry which said it would be a setback and that it would undo work to restore their reputation.

The Japanese government has been deliberating the issue of releasing contaminated water into sea for over three years even as neigbourig South Korea&nbsp;has voiced concern about the environmental impact.

The controversy over the release of water has become further complaited with the Fukushima nuclear plant located less than 60 km from the Olympic venue with the games set to take place next year.

According to the Japananese media reports, the government has decided to release radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. Also Read: At Fukushima plant, a million-tonne headache: radioactive water The Fukushima nuclear plant was destroyed when tsumai and earthquake had hit the country in 2011.

According to the Japananese media reports, the government has decided to release radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. Also Read: At Fukushima plant, a million-tonne headache: radioactive water The Fukushima nuclear plant was destroyed when tsumai and earthquake had hit the country in 2011. According to Japanes media, the Japanese government will make formal announcement this month. "Decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi plant is a major premise for a restoration in Fukushima from the nuclear disaster. To prevent any delays in the decommissioning process, we need to make a decision quickly," Japanese industry minister Hiroshi Kajiyama said. The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc has collected over one million tonnes of contaminated water with tritium being the matter of concern for environmentalists. The Japanese government is set to start the operations in 2022, reports say. The Japanese government's reported move was resisted by the fish industry which said it would be a setback and that it would undo work to restore their reputation. The Japanese government has been deliberating the issue of releasing contaminated water into sea for over three years even as neigbourig South Korea has voiced concern about the environmental impact. The controversy over the release of water has become further complaited with the Fukushima nuclear plant located less than 60 km from the Olympic venue with the games set to take place next year.

Japan to release radioactive water from Fukushima nuclear plant into sea: Report

&nbsp;

 
Despite &nbsp;Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's stance of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nuclear-fuel-removed-from-crippled-japan-plant-210573">using nuclear plants</a> to power the world's third-largest economy, the Japanese public has remained staunchly against atomic energy. The Court decision gave power to the people and the matter appears to remain static.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/74-earthquake-hits-japan-followed-by-tsunami-9157">2011 Fukushima nuclear accident</a> followed a catastrophic tsunami, shutting down all nuclear power stations in Japan, many of which are still closed. 
&nbsp; 
It was the decision of a lower court that was overruled by the Hiroshima High Court in March, for it would have allowed the reactor at the Ikata nuclear plant in western Japan to resume operations.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-approves-restarting-nuclear-reactor-closest-to-epicentre-of-2011-quake-264845">Japan approves restarting nuclear reactor closest to epicentre of 2011 quake</a>

 
Shikoku Electric Power, the plant's operator intends to appeal the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-court-acquits-energy-bosses-over-fukushima-disaster-250636">high court's ruling</a> as it wanted to resume work at the reactor which had been halted for routine inspections.

<img alt="Fukushima Daiichi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f0ec7e84-0b76-434b-a2b3-36af7f9a66a0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-01-20T182011.911.jpg" /> 
[&nbsp;Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant (Courtesy: AFP) ] 
 
Failure to properly evaluate the risks posed by a local volcano and seismic faultlines became a strong case after a complaint was lodged by residents of a neighbouring region. 
 
The lower court ruling that paved the way for the reactor to resume functions was revoked by presiding high court judge Kazukate Mori. 
 
Kazukate Mori, the judge presiding over Hiroshima High Court, revoked the lower court ruling which allowed the reactor to resume functioning. 
 
Mori argued that it was not logical to assume that volcanic eruptions can be predicted far in advance, as done so under national standards for operating nuclear reactors; and safety assessments had been insufficient to resume operations. 
 
"There is a fault line within two kilometres from the nuclear plant but Shikoku Electric has not conducted thorough surveys, and the way the Nuclear Regulation Authority reached its assessment that there was no problem contained errors and inadequacies," the judge remarked. 
 
The ruling was criticised by Shikoku Electric and the scientific merit of the firm's argument was emphasized, surprising no one, deemed it safe to operate the reactor. 
 
The utility issued a statement saying, "After closely examining the decision, we will file a petition of objection so that the injunction will be cancelled as soon as possible."

Despite Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's stance of using nuclear plants to power the world's third-largest economy, the Japanese public has remained staunchly against atomic energy.

Despite Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's stance of using nuclear plants to power the world's third-largest economy, the Japanese public has remained staunchly against atomic energy. The Court decision gave power to the people and the matter appears to remain static. The 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident followed a catastrophic tsunami, shutting down all nuclear power stations in Japan, many of which are still closed. It was the decision of a lower court that was overruled by the Hiroshima High Court in March, for it would have allowed the reactor at the Ikata nuclear plant in western Japan to resume operations. Also Read: Japan approves restarting nuclear reactor closest to epicentre of 2011 quake Shikoku Electric Power, the plant's operator intends to appeal the high court's ruling as it wanted to resume work at the reactor which had been halted for routine inspections. [ Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant (Courtesy: AFP) ] Failure to properly evaluate the risks posed by a local volcano and seismic faultlines became a strong case after a complaint was lodged by residents of a neighbouring region. The lower court ruling that paved the way for the reactor to resume functions was revoked by presiding high court judge Kazukate Mori. Kazukate Mori, the judge presiding over Hiroshima High Court, revoked the lower court ruling which allowed the reactor to resume functioning. Mori argued that it was not logical to assume that volcanic eruptions can be predicted far in advance, as done so under national standards for operating nuclear reactors; and safety assessments had been insufficient to resume operations. "There is a fault line within two kilometres from the nuclear plant but Shikoku Electric has not conducted thorough surveys, and the way the Nuclear Regulation Authority reached its assessment that there was no problem contained errors and inadequacies," the judge remarked. The ruling was criticised by Shikoku Electric and the scientific merit of the firm's argument was emphasized, surprising no one, deemed it safe to operate the reactor. The utility issued a statement saying, "After closely examining the decision, we will file a petition of objection so that the injunction will be cancelled as soon as possible."

Hiroshima High Court overrules go-ahead for restarting nuclear plant near fault line

A Japanese government agency has proposed releasing radioactive water from the stricken&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-court-acquits-energy-bosses-over-fukushima-disaster-250636">Fukushima </a>nuclear plant into the environment, as storage space runs out.

The plant suffered a meltdown about nine years ago after it was hit by an earthquake-triggered tsunami. About a million tonnes of contaminated water has built up since then and the tanks that hold it are almost full.

Watch: Namei after Fukushima 2011

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/360-wion-namei-after-fukushima-2011-3046/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The government's Agency for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-voices-concern-over-future-energy-as-he-comforts-victims-of-fukushima-disaster-264290">Natural Resources and Energy</a> on Monday proposed three ways to deal with the water releasing it into the sea, into the air using vaporisation or a combination of the two.

"There is no option (any longer) of simply storing the water for a long period of time," an agency official told AFP on Tuesday.

An extensive pumping and filtration system is in place at the plant, which each day brings up tonnes of newly contaminated water and filters out almost all radioactive elements.

The process leaves only tritium, which experts say is only harmful to humans in&nbsp;very large doses.&nbsp;

No decision was taken at Monday's meeting but "no members voiced opposition to the view that a technically realistic way is discharging the water into the sea or the air," according to the agency official.

The panel has been discussing how to dispose of the liquid for years and no deadline has been set for it to report to the government.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-fukushima-plant-a-million-tonne-headache-radioactive-water-253979">radioactive water </a>comes from several different sources, including water used for cooling at the plant groundwater that seeps into the plant daily and rainwater.

Properly filtered Fukushima water could be diluted with seawater and safely released into the ocean without causing environmental problems, the International Atomic Energy Agency argues.

Discharging it into the environment could trigger protests however not only from local fishermen and farmers but also from neighbouring countries.

The treated water is currently kept in a thousand huge tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi site.

Plant operator TEPCO is building more tanks but all will be full by the summer of 2022.

A Japanese government agency has proposed releasing radioactive water from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the environment, as storage space runs out. The plant suffered a meltdown about nine years ago after it was hit by an earthquake-triggered tsunami.

A Japanese government agency has proposed releasing radioactive water from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the environment, as storage space runs out. The plant suffered a meltdown about nine years ago after it was hit by an earthquake-triggered tsunami. About a million tonnes of contaminated water has built up since then and the tanks that hold it are almost full. Watch: Namei after Fukushima 2011 The government's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy on Monday proposed three ways to deal with the water releasing it into the sea, into the air using vaporisation or a combination of the two. "There is no option (any longer) of simply storing the water for a long period of time," an agency official told AFP on Tuesday. An extensive pumping and filtration system is in place at the plant, which each day brings up tonnes of newly contaminated water and filters out almost all radioactive elements. The process leaves only tritium, which experts say is only harmful to humans in very large doses. No decision was taken at Monday's meeting but "no members voiced opposition to the view that a technically realistic way is discharging the water into the sea or the air," according to the agency official. The panel has been discussing how to dispose of the liquid for years and no deadline has been set for it to report to the government. The radioactive water comes from several different sources, including water used for cooling at the plant groundwater that seeps into the plant daily and rainwater. Properly filtered Fukushima water could be diluted with seawater and safely released into the ocean without causing environmental problems, the International Atomic Energy Agency argues. Discharging it into the environment could trigger protests however not only from local fishermen and farmers but also from neighbouring countries. The treated water is currently kept in a thousand huge tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi site. Plant operator TEPCO is building more tanks but all will be full by the summer of 2022.

Japan planning to release Fukushima radioactive water as storage space runs out

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-arrives-in-japan-to-preach-anti-nuclear-message-264057">Pope Francis</a> expressed concern about future energy sources as he comforted victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster on Monday, noting a call by Japan's Catholic bishops to abolish nuclear power outright.

Around 18,000 people died or were classified as missing after the so-called triple disaster when a massive earthquake set off a tsunami - in some places 30 meters high - destroying a wide swath of Japan's northeastern coast and triggering a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant.

Radiation from the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl forced hundreds of thousands to flee the area and thousands will never return.

"Important decisions will have to be made about the use of natural resources, and future energy sources in particular," the Pope said in an address to survivors in downtown Tokyo.

"Until social bonds in local communities are re-established, and people can once more enjoy safe and stable lives, the Fukushima accident will not be fully resolved," Francis said.

"This involves, as my brother bishops in Japan have emphasized, concern about the continuing use of nuclear power; for this reason, they have called for the abolition of nuclear power plants," he said.

In a statement released following the Fukushima disaster, Japan's Catholic Bishops Conference said the cessation of all nuclear power generation in the country was "imperative" given the country was disaster prone.

Resource-poor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-bid-to-repair-ties-japan-and-south-korea-agree-to-summit-next-month-264060">Japan </a>has long pushed nuclear power as a solution despite being one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations. All nuclear power plants were shut after 2011 but several have since been re-opened.

Francis listened intently as Toshiko Kato, the head of a Catholic kindergarten in Miyako City, told him: "Along with the rest of the town, my home was swept away by the tsunami."

Several Japanese Catholic officials at the meeting said Francis had repeatedly expressed a desire to go to see the disaster zone first-hand, but scheduling would not permit the trip so they brought some survivors to Tokyo to meet the pontiff.

Teenager Matsuki Kamoshita, who was eight years old at the time of the accident, said radiation was still being emitted and demanded the truth from adults about the long-term effects of radiation.

"It will take many times longer than my lifetime to restore the contaminated land and forests. So, for us who live there, adults have a responsibility to explain without concealing anything about radioactive contamination, exposure, and possible damage in the future. I don’t want them to die before us, having lied or not admitting the truth," he said.

Despite the sombre nature of the meeting, held in a convention centre in downtown Tokyo, a chamber orchestra played a tango in honour of the Argentinian-born pope to greet him as he walked in and he later thanked them for it.

Francis, who is making the first trip by a pontiff to Japan since 1981, used visits over the weekend to the only cities ever hit by atomic bombs - Hiroshima and Nagasaki - to underscore his campaign to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-urges-abolition-of-nuclear-weapons-at-nagasaki-ground-zero-264149">abolish nuclear weapons</a>. He reiterated his belief that their possession is indefensibly perverse and immoral and their use a crime against mankind and nature.

After meeting with the Fukushima survivors, Francis met with Emperor Naruhito. He is also scheduled to talk with Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-prime-minister-abes-approval-rating-sags-due-to-accusations-of-violating-laws-for-political-spending-262813">Shinzo Abe</a> later in the day.

Pope Francis expressed concern about future energy sources as he comforted victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster on Monday, noting a call by Japan's Catholic bishops to abolish nuclear power outright.

Pope Francis expressed concern about future energy sources as he comforted victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster on Monday, noting a call by Japan's Catholic bishops to abolish nuclear power outright. Around 18,000 people died or were classified as missing after the so-called triple disaster when a massive earthquake set off a tsunami - in some places 30 meters high - destroying a wide swath of Japan's northeastern coast and triggering a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant. Radiation from the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl forced hundreds of thousands to flee the area and thousands will never return. "Important decisions will have to be made about the use of natural resources, and future energy sources in particular," the Pope said in an address to survivors in downtown Tokyo. "Until social bonds in local communities are re-established, and people can once more enjoy safe and stable lives, the Fukushima accident will not be fully resolved," Francis said. "This involves, as my brother bishops in Japan have emphasized, concern about the continuing use of nuclear power; for this reason, they have called for the abolition of nuclear power plants," he said. In a statement released following the Fukushima disaster, Japan's Catholic Bishops Conference said the cessation of all nuclear power generation in the country was "imperative" given the country was disaster prone. Resource-poor Japan has long pushed nuclear power as a solution despite being one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations. All nuclear power plants were shut after 2011 but several have since been re-opened. Francis listened intently as Toshiko Kato, the head of a Catholic kindergarten in Miyako City, told him: "Along with the rest of the town, my home was swept away by the tsunami." Several Japanese Catholic officials at the meeting said Francis had repeatedly expressed a desire to go to see the disaster zone first-hand, but scheduling would not permit the trip so they brought some survivors to Tokyo to meet the pontiff. Teenager Matsuki Kamoshita, who was eight years old at the time of the accident, said radiation was still being emitted and demanded the truth from adults about the long-term effects of radiation. "It will take many times longer than my lifetime to restore the contaminated land and forests. So, for us who live there, adults have a responsibility to explain without concealing anything about radioactive contamination, exposure, and possible damage in the future. I don’t want them to die before us, having lied or not admitting the truth," he said. Despite the sombre nature of the meeting, held in a convention centre in downtown Tokyo, a chamber orchestra played a tango in honour of the Argentinian-born pope to greet him as he walked in and he later thanked them for it. Francis, who is making the first trip by a pontiff to Japan since 1981, used visits over the weekend to the only cities ever hit by atomic bombs - Hiroshima and Nagasaki - to underscore his campaign to abolish nuclear weapons. He reiterated his belief that their possession is indefensibly perverse and immoral and their use a crime against mankind and nature. After meeting with the Fukushima survivors, Francis met with Emperor Naruhito. He is also scheduled to talk with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later in the day.

Until social bonds in local communities is re-established, Fukushima accident will not be fully resolved: Pope Francis

In the grounds of the ravaged <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-court-acquits-energy-bosses-over-fukushima-disaster-250636">Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant</a> sits a million-tonne headache for the plant's operators and Japan's government: tank after tank of water contaminated with radioactive elements.

What to do with the enormous amount of water, which grows by around 150 tonnes a day, is a thorny question, with the controversy surrounding a long-standing proposal to discharge it into the sea, after extensive decontamination.

The water comes from several different sources: some is used for cooling at the plant, which suffered a meltdown after it was hit by a tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake in March 2011.

Groundwater that seeps into the plant daily, along with rainwater, add to the problem.

A thousand, towering tanks have now replaced many of the cherry trees that once dotted the plant's ground.&nbsp;

Each can hold 1,200 tonnes, and most of them are already full.

"We will build more on the site until the end of 2020, and we think all the tanks will be full by around the summer of 2022," said Junichi Matsumoto, an official with the unit of plant operator TEPCO in charge of dismantling the site.

TEPCO has been struggling with the problem for years, taking various measures to limit the amount of groundwater entering the site.

There is also an extensive pumping and filtration system, that each day brings up tonnes of newly contaminated water and filters out as many of the radioactive elements as possible.

Highly radioactive

The hangar where the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-japan-scientists-study-radioactive-fukushima-particles-202064">decontamination system</a> runs is designated "Zone Y" -- a danger zone requiring special protections.

All those entering must wear elaborate protection: a full body suit, three layers of socks, three layers of gloves, a double cap topped by a helmet, a vest with a pocket carrying a dosimeter, a full-face respirator mask and special shoes.

Most of the outfits have&nbsp;to be burned after use.

"The machinery filters contain radionuclides, so you have to be very protected here, just like with the buildings where the reactors are," explained TEPCO risk communicator Katsutoshi Oyama.

TEPCO has been filtering newly contaminated water for years, but much of it needs to go through the process again because early versions of the filtration process did not fully remove some dangerous radioactive elements, including strontium 90.

The current process is more effective, removing or reducing around 60 radionuclides to levels accepted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for water being discharged.

But there is one that remains, which cannot be removed with the current technology: tritium.

Tritium is naturally present in the environment and has also been discharged in its artificial form into the environment by the nuclear industry around the world.

There is little evidence that it causes harm to humans except in very high concentrations and the IAEA argues that properly filtered Fukushima water could be diluted with seawater and then safely released into the ocean without causing environmental problems.

'Absolutely against it'

But those assurances are of little comfort to many in the region, particularly Fukushima's fishing industry which, like&nbsp;local farmers, has suffered from the outside perception that food from the region is unsafe.

Kyoichi Kamiyama, director of the radioactivity research department at the regional government's Fisheries and Marine Science Research Centre, points out that local fishermen are still struggling eight years after the disaster.

"Discharging into the ocean? I'm absolutely against it," he told AFP.

At the national government level, the view is more sanguine.

"We want to study how to minimise the damage (from a potential discharge) to the region's reputation and Fukushima products," an Industry Ministry official said.

The government is sensitive to fears that people inside Japan and further afield will view any discharge as sending radioactive waste into the sea.

No decisions are likely in the near-term, with the country sensitive to the international spotlight that will fall on Japan as it hosts the Olympic Games next year.

Environmentalists are also resolutely opposed to any discharge into the sea, and Greenpeace argues that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fukushima-operator-ordered-to-pay-10-million-in-new-damages-32209">TEPCO cannot be trusted</a> to properly decontaminate the water.

The solution, said Greenpeace senior nuclear specialist Shaun Burnie, "ultimately can only be long-term storage and processing."

In the grounds of the ravaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant sits a million-tonne headache for the plant's operators and Japan's government: tank after tank of water contaminated with radioactive elements.

In the grounds of the ravaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant sits a million-tonne headache for the plant's operators and Japan's government: tank after tank of water contaminated with radioactive elements. What to do with the enormous amount of water, which grows by around 150 tonnes a day, is a thorny question, with the controversy surrounding a long-standing proposal to discharge it into the sea, after extensive decontamination. The water comes from several different sources: some is used for cooling at the plant, which suffered a meltdown after it was hit by a tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake in March 2011. Groundwater that seeps into the plant daily, along with rainwater, add to the problem. A thousand, towering tanks have now replaced many of the cherry trees that once dotted the plant's ground. Each can hold 1,200 tonnes, and most of them are already full. "We will build more on the site until the end of 2020, and we think all the tanks will be full by around the summer of 2022," said Junichi Matsumoto, an official with the unit of plant operator TEPCO in charge of dismantling the site. TEPCO has been struggling with the problem for years, taking various measures to limit the amount of groundwater entering the site. There is also an extensive pumping and filtration system, that each day brings up tonnes of newly contaminated water and filters out as many of the radioactive elements as possible. Highly radioactive The hangar where the decontamination system runs is designated "Zone Y" -- a danger zone requiring special protections. All those entering must wear elaborate protection: a full body suit, three layers of socks, three layers of gloves, a double cap topped by a helmet, a vest with a pocket carrying a dosimeter, a full-face respirator mask and special shoes. Most of the outfits have to be burned after use. "The machinery filters contain radionuclides, so you have to be very protected here, just like with the buildings where the reactors are," explained TEPCO risk communicator Katsutoshi Oyama. TEPCO has been filtering newly contaminated water for years, but much of it needs to go through the process again because early versions of the filtration process did not fully remove some dangerous radioactive elements, including strontium 90. The current process is more effective, removing or reducing around 60 radionuclides to levels accepted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for water being discharged. But there is one that remains, which cannot be removed with the current technology: tritium. Tritium is naturally present in the environment and has also been discharged in its artificial form into the environment by the nuclear industry around the world. There is little evidence that it causes harm to humans except in very high concentrations and the IAEA argues that properly filtered Fukushima water could be diluted with seawater and then safely released into the ocean without causing environmental problems. 'Absolutely against it' But those assurances are of little comfort to many in the region, particularly Fukushima's fishing industry which, like local farmers, has suffered from the outside perception that food from the region is unsafe. Kyoichi Kamiyama, director of the radioactivity research department at the regional government's Fisheries and Marine Science Research Centre, points out that local fishermen are still struggling eight years after the disaster. "Discharging into the ocean? I'm absolutely against it," he told AFP. At the national government level, the view is more sanguine. "We want to study how to minimise the damage (from a potential discharge) to the region's reputation and Fukushima products," an Industry Ministry official said. The government is sensitive to fears that people inside Japan and further afield will view any discharge as sending radioactive waste into the sea. No decisions are likely in the near-term, with the country sensitive to the international spotlight that will fall on Japan as it hosts the Olympic Games next year. Environmentalists are also resolutely opposed to any discharge into the sea, and Greenpeace argues that TEPCO cannot be trusted to properly decontaminate the water. The solution, said Greenpeace senior nuclear specialist Shaun Burnie, "ultimately can only be long-term storage and processing."

At Fukushima plant, a million-tonne headache: radioactive water

A Japanese court on Thursday cleared three energy firm bosses of professional negligence in the only criminal trial stemming from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown.

The three men were senior officials at the TEPCO firm operating the Fukushima Daiichi plant and had faced up to five years in prison if convicted.

"All defendants are not guilty", the presiding judge said, ruling that the executives could not have predicted the scale of the tsunami that overwhelmed the plant and triggered the accident.

The decision is likely to be appealed, extending the legal wrangling over responsibility for the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl, more than eight years after the disaster.

Outside the courtroom, dozens of people staged a rally, including some who had travelled from the Fukushima region to hear the verdict.

"It is absolutely an unjust ruling. We absolutely cannot accept this," one woman said angrily, addressing the crowd.

"We will appeal this and continue our fight," shouted a man nearby.

TEPCO declined to comment on the verdict, repeating its "sincere apologies for the great inconvenience and concern" caused by the disaster.

The three former executives were accused of professional negligence resulting in death and injury for failing to act on information about the risks from a major tsunami, but they argued the data available to them at the time was unreliable.

Judge Kenichi Nagafuchi said the verdict turned on the "predictability" of the massive tsunami that swamped the nuclear plant in March 2011 after a 9.0-magnitude undersea earthquake.

He pointed out there had been no proposal from the government's nuclear watchdog "that TEPCO should suspend operations until (safety) measures are taken."

Complex path to trial

No one was killed in the nuclear meltdown, but the tsunami left 18,500 dead or missing.

The ex-TEPCO executives faced trial in relation to the deaths of more than 40 hospitalised patients who died after having to be evacuated following the nuclear disaster.

Prosecutors twice declined to proceed with the case, citing insufficient evidence and a slim chance of conviction, but were forced to after a judicial review panel composed of ordinary citizens ruled that the trio should face trial.

All three defendants -- former TEPCO chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, 79, and former vice presidents Sakae Muto, 69, and Ichiro Takekuro, 73 -- had pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutors said the men were present at meetings where experts warned of the anticipated height of a tsunami off the Fukushima coast and should have taken better safety measures.

They argued the executives were presented data warning a tsunami exceeding 10 metres (33 feet) could trigger power loss and a major disaster at the plant.

And a TEPCO internal study, based on a government report, concluded that a wave of up to 15.7 metres could hit after a magnitude-8.3 quake.

In the event, when a 9.0-magnitude quake hit offshore on March 11, 2011, waves as high as 14 metres swamped the reactors' cooling systems.

The resulting meltdown forced massive evacuations and left parts of the surrounding area uninhabitable -- in some cases possibly forever.

'No one taking responsibility'

The three defendants have apologised, but argued they could not have foreseen the disaster based on the available evidence and that they thought officials in the firm responsible for nuclear safety had taken appropriate measures.

"It is difficult to deal with issues that are uncertain and obscure," Takekuro said during the trial.

Separately from the criminal case, dozens of civil lawsuits have been filed against the government and TEPCO.

Some district courts have granted damages to local residents, ordering TEPCO and the government to pay.

Before the verdict, protestors outside the court said the trial was a chance to hold someone accountable for the disaster.

"If we don't hear guilty verdicts, our years-long efforts to bring this to court will not have been rewarded," said Saki Okawara, 67, who came from Miharu in the Fukushima region to hear the verdict.

"And Japanese society's culture of no one taking responsibility will continue."

A Japanese court on Thursday cleared three energy firm bosses of professional negligence in the only criminal trial stemming from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown.

A Japanese court on Thursday cleared three energy firm bosses of professional negligence in the only criminal trial stemming from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown. The three men were senior officials at the TEPCO firm operating the Fukushima Daiichi plant and had faced up to five years in prison if convicted. "All defendants are not guilty", the presiding judge said, ruling that the executives could not have predicted the scale of the tsunami that overwhelmed the plant and triggered the accident. The decision is likely to be appealed, extending the legal wrangling over responsibility for the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl, more than eight years after the disaster. Outside the courtroom, dozens of people staged a rally, including some who had travelled from the Fukushima region to hear the verdict. "It is absolutely an unjust ruling. We absolutely cannot accept this," one woman said angrily, addressing the crowd. "We will appeal this and continue our fight," shouted a man nearby. TEPCO declined to comment on the verdict, repeating its "sincere apologies for the great inconvenience and concern" caused by the disaster. The three former executives were accused of professional negligence resulting in death and injury for failing to act on information about the risks from a major tsunami, but they argued the data available to them at the time was unreliable. Judge Kenichi Nagafuchi said the verdict turned on the "predictability" of the massive tsunami that swamped the nuclear plant in March 2011 after a 9.0-magnitude undersea earthquake. He pointed out there had been no proposal from the government's nuclear watchdog "that TEPCO should suspend operations until (safety) measures are taken." Complex path to trial No one was killed in the nuclear meltdown, but the tsunami left 18,500 dead or missing. The ex-TEPCO executives faced trial in relation to the deaths of more than 40 hospitalised patients who died after having to be evacuated following the nuclear disaster. Prosecutors twice declined to proceed with the case, citing insufficient evidence and a slim chance of conviction, but were forced to after a judicial review panel composed of ordinary citizens ruled that the trio should face trial. All three defendants -- former TEPCO chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, 79, and former vice presidents Sakae Muto, 69, and Ichiro Takekuro, 73 -- had pleaded not guilty. The prosecutors said the men were present at meetings where experts warned of the anticipated height of a tsunami off the Fukushima coast and should have taken better safety measures. They argued the executives were presented data warning a tsunami exceeding 10 metres (33 feet) could trigger power loss and a major disaster at the plant. And a TEPCO internal study, based on a government report, concluded that a wave of up to 15.7 metres could hit after a magnitude-8.3 quake. In the event, when a 9.0-magnitude quake hit offshore on March 11, 2011, waves as high as 14 metres swamped the reactors' cooling systems. The resulting meltdown forced massive evacuations and left parts of the surrounding area uninhabitable -- in some cases possibly forever. 'No one taking responsibility' The three defendants have apologised, but argued they could not have foreseen the disaster based on the available evidence and that they thought officials in the firm responsible for nuclear safety had taken appropriate measures. "It is difficult to deal with issues that are uncertain and obscure," Takekuro said during the trial. Separately from the criminal case, dozens of civil lawsuits have been filed against the government and TEPCO. Some district courts have granted damages to local residents, ordering TEPCO and the government to pay. Before the verdict, protestors outside the court said the trial was a chance to hold someone accountable for the disaster. "If we don't hear guilty verdicts, our years-long efforts to bring this to court will not have been rewarded," said Saki Okawara, 67, who came from Miharu in the Fukushima region to hear the verdict. "And Japanese society's culture of no one taking responsibility will continue."

Japan court acquits energy bosses over Fukushima disaster

Japanese government officials on Wednesday told diplomats they were still considering options for handling contaminated water at Tokyo Electric Power's wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant amid worries the water may be dumped into the ocean.

A massive body of tainted water - more than a million tons as of August - is building up at the plant, crippled by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami, as operator Tokyo Electric (Tepco) tries to cool the melted fuel cores by pouring water over them. Tepco has said it will run out of tank space by mid-2022.

The briefing for embassy officials in Tokyo follows a meeting in August of a government panel of experts looking into ways to solve the water problem. The final government decision will be made based on a report by the panel.

Asked by one of the participating embassy officials about the timing of the panel decision, Japanese officials said such timing has not been fixed, according to a media briefing held later on the day.

The briefing for diplomats was attended by 27 embassy officials from 22 countries and regions, including South Korea and the United States. No protests or demands have been made by the participating diplomats, according to the media briefing.

"With transparency in mind, Japan will continue providing the international community with information (on the Fukushima situation)," Koichiro Matsumoto, the Japanese Foreign Ministry's director of international cooperation, told diplomats at the start of the meeting, the outset of which was open to media.

The meeting comes after South Korea, locked in a trade and territorial rows with Japan, last month summoned a senior official from the Japanese embassy in Seoul, to ask about Japan's stance on dealing with the Fukushima water.

But a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told reporters that briefings for diplomats on the matter have been held more than 100 times since the March 2011 disaster, and the one on Wednesday was held to pass information discussed at the latest government panel meeting in August.

Japanese government officials on Wednesday told diplomats they were still considering options for handling contaminated water at Tokyo Electric Power's wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant amid worries the water may be dumped into the ocean.

Japanese government officials on Wednesday told diplomats they were still considering options for handling contaminated water at Tokyo Electric Power's wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant amid worries the water may be dumped into the ocean. A massive body of tainted water - more than a million tons as of August - is building up at the plant, crippled by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami, as operator Tokyo Electric (Tepco) tries to cool the melted fuel cores by pouring water over them. Tepco has said it will run out of tank space by mid-2022. The briefing for embassy officials in Tokyo follows a meeting in August of a government panel of experts looking into ways to solve the water problem. The final government decision will be made based on a report by the panel. Asked by one of the participating embassy officials about the timing of the panel decision, Japanese officials said such timing has not been fixed, according to a media briefing held later on the day. The briefing for diplomats was attended by 27 embassy officials from 22 countries and regions, including South Korea and the United States. No protests or demands have been made by the participating diplomats, according to the media briefing. "With transparency in mind, Japan will continue providing the international community with information (on the Fukushima situation)," Koichiro Matsumoto, the Japanese Foreign Ministry's director of international cooperation, told diplomats at the start of the meeting, the outset of which was open to media. The meeting comes after South Korea, locked in a trade and territorial rows with Japan, last month summoned a senior official from the Japanese embassy in Seoul, to ask about Japan's stance on dealing with the Fukushima water. But a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told reporters that briefings for diplomats on the matter have been held more than 100 times since the March 2011 disaster, and the one on Wednesday was held to pass information discussed at the latest government panel meeting in August.

Japan tells diplomats no decision yet on contaminated Fukushima water

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