Obuchi meets Governor Sato

September 25, 2014

Obuchi vows plant decommission, water management

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html

Sep. 25, 2014 - Updated 07:16 UTC+2

Japan's industry minister Yuko Obuchi says her government is strongly committed to containing radioactive wastewater at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, and to seeing decommissioning completed.

Obuchi met Fukushima Governor Yuhei Sato at his prefectural office on Thursday. It was their first meeting since Obuchi joined the cabinet last month.

Obuchi said her ministry is determined to make the plant's problems its top priority.

Sato said Fukushima is still suffering from post-accident rumors, with tourism and fisheries being especially hard-hit.
He asked the central government to do more to prevent problems, such as in the work to contain radioactive wastewater.

Sato also urged the government to decommission the Fukushima Daini Plant, which lies south of the ruined Daiichi plant.

Obuchi said scrapping the plant is a decision to be made by the operator. But she said she fully understands that Fukushima residents see the issue differently to others waiting for nuclear safety screenings elsewhere in Japan.