“It is our responsibility to demonstrate we can carry out the water release as planned, and that’s how we can regain public trust.”
We must keep up the effort and sincerely respond to any concern,” Matsumoto said. “As the operator responsible for the accident, we must admit TEPCO is a company that is not fully trusted. “If we describe (the water release) in one word, it’s safe.” “It is difficult, but we hope to make it as easy to understand as possible,” he said. Matsumoto said the key to gaining understanding is to patiently explain the situation by providing scientific evidence. Groups in South Korea and China have also raised concerns, turning it into a political and diplomatic issue.
The release plan has faced strong opposition from Japanese fishing organizations, which worry about further damage to the reputation of their seafood as they struggle to recover from the accident. The government and TEPCO say the water must be removed to make room for the plant’s decommissioning, and to prevent accidental leaks from the tanks because much of the water is still contaminated and needs retreatment.
