2023-07-15 21:00:00
While the government and Tokyo Electric Power Co. are sticking to their policy of starting to release treated water from the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the ocean this summer, some beaches in Fukushima Prefecture opened to the public on the 15th. “I want you to avoid releasing it during the sea bathing season.” Beach officials, who are increasingly distrustful of the government and TEPCO, are concerned regarding the impact on tourism. (Watanabe Seiko)
Yukinaga Suzuki worries regarding when treated water will be released into the ocean at Usuiso Beach, in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, on the 11th.
On the 15th, it was a hot and humid day, and at Usuiso Beach in the city of Iwaki, regarding 45 kilometers south of the nuclear power plant, there were few visitors due to cloudy skies.
“We do business in the sea. If possible, we don’t want them released while the beach is open.” Yukinaga Suzuki, 70, who runs a guesthouse right in front of the beach, said that the release was unavoidable, but expressed his indivisible feelings.
Mr. Suzuki also runs a beach house every year, earning 30-40% of annual sales in the summer. The government has set up a fund to deal with reputational damage to fisheries, but there is no fund for tourism-related people.
◆Tourists are returning
Suzuki’s guest house was partially destroyed in the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011. The beach reopened in 2017, but was forced to close in 2020 and 2021 when the novel coronavirus hit. Last year, when it was opened for the first time in three years, it was the busiest beach in the city with more than 92,000 visitors. Tourists are returning, although they are regarding one-third of what they were before the earthquake.
I only know regarding the movement to release treated water into the ocean when it is “future” just by looking at the news reports. “TEPCO never came to talk to me. They lacked a sense of ownership,” he said.
Kazutoshi Kouhei, 81, who works as the head of the local ward at Yotsukura Beach (Iwaki City), which is regarding 10 kilometers from Usuiso Beach near the nuclear power plant, said, “The government and TEPCO worked together to release it. Don’t you just let it go without an explanation?” with a resigned face. Yotsukura Beach was set as the main venue for the city’s sea opening event this year, and the beach house opened for the first time in regarding 40 years. It’s a great opportunity to attract customers, so I’m worried regarding “I have high hopes, but what will happen…”.
In August, the first surfing tournament following the earthquake will also be held
Last year, Iwasawa Beach in Naraha Town, which reopened for the first time in 12 years, will hold its first surfing tournament since the earthquake in August. It was timed to coincide with the busiest time on the beach. Kentaro Yoshida, 37, who runs a hotel and other facilities in the town of Hirono, said, “I only heard regarding the release on the news.” While accepting the government’s policy, he stressed, “If it leads to rumors, more people will not come to Fukushima. I want the economy to be able to run.”
In May, Iwaki City submitted a written request to the government and TEPCO in response to voices of concerns from people involved in swimming. He urged the government to “carefully accumulate efforts to gain understanding, rather than relying on the timing of the release.” A city official said, “We want you to properly listen to the voices of people who are concerned.”
In Nagatacho, Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, who said, “It’s better to avoid releasing it during the sea bathing season,” was criticized by the ruling and opposition parties for aggravating rumors, and was forced to explain. With beaches outside the mosquito net, the government and TEPCO’s efforts to release water into the ocean continue unabated. Mr. Suzuki appeals once more.
“We want our voices to be heard, not just fishermen.”
Beaches in Fukushima PrefectureThis summer, they will open a total of eight locations in five municipalities: Iwaki City, Minamisoma City, Soma City, Naraha Town, and Shinchi Town. Due to the effects of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, the Kumagawa Beach in Okuma Town and the Futaba Beach in Futaba Town, both of which are in the difficult-to-return zone, are still off-limits to the public. There is no prospect of reopening.
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