Published on September 21, 2019.
Based on Sankei Sho, this chapter discusses former Environment Minister Harada Yoshiaki’s statement on the treated water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant: “There is no option other than to discharge it into the sea and dilute it.”
It addresses the nature of tritium, the ordinary practice of ocean discharge around the world, South Korea’s criticism of Japan at the IAEA, and Environment Minister Koizumi Shinjiro’s ambiguous response.

September 21, 2019.
Former Environment Minister Harada Yoshiaki’s frank words concerning the ever-increasing treated water after purification of contaminated water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant strike directly at the essence of the matter.
The following is from this morning’s Sankei Sho.
“Simply standing close to the disaster-stricken areas will not save them.”
Former Environment Minister Harada Yoshiaki’s frank words concerning the ever-increasing treated water after purification of contaminated water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant strike directly at the essence of the matter.
Immediately before leaving office, he said, “There is no option other than to discharge it into the sea and dilute it,” and drew opposition, but it was a statement made with full resolve.
▼The radioactive substance “tritium” contained in the treated water exists in large quantities in nature, and its radiation is so weak that it can be blocked by a single sheet of paper and cannot even penetrate the skin.
Even if taken into the body, it is quickly excreted, and countries around the world very ordinarily discharge it into the sea.
However, out of consideration for disaster-stricken areas that fear an increase in reputational damage, it has until now been accumulated in storage tanks.
▼The tanks will become full in a few years.
Mr. Harada’s straightforward statement was something that someone had to say.
However, his successor, Environment Minister Koizumi Shinjiro, did not make use of this opportunity.
“I am frankly sorry.”
When he met with fisheries-related people in Fukushima Prefecture on the 12th, he readily apologized.
▼“Ocean discharge could become a serious international issue that may affect the marine environment of the entire world.”
South Korea immediately linked this to an unreasonable criticism of Japan at the meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, on the 16th.
Even when Mr. Koizumi was asked about this matter at a press conference on the 20th, he vaguely clouded his words and did not clearly refute it.
▼Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, discussed in his book Leaders the new politician who speaks fluently and eloquently about his beliefs and surprises the mass media and his colleagues.
“The initial novelty soon wears off, and they too begin to be judged not by ‘how they speak’ but by ‘what they say,’ and before long it becomes clear that they are nothing more than mere talkers.”
▼Needless to say, Mr. Koizumi is not a newcomer.
He is a cabinet minister who bears a heavy responsibility and from whom his natural communicative power is expected.
That is precisely why I want him to show his true worth.