Key Facts
• On July 19, 2025, contaminated soil from Fukushima was delivered to the Prime Minister’s Office.
• The soil, measuring 2 cubic meters, was transported in a 10-ton truck.
• The radioactive concentration of the soil was 6,400 becquerels per kilogram.
• The soil was placed in a 2m x 2m x 0.6m area in the garden near the main entrance.
• It was covered with at least 20 cm of regular soil and planted with grass.
• Radiation levels will be monitored weekly to assess changes.
• This marks the first large-scale transport of contaminated soil outside Fukushima.
• The Ministry of the Environment aims to promote public understanding of soil reuse.
• Japan plans to reuse soil with radiation levels below 8,000 becquerels/kg in public works.
• The contaminated soil stored in Fukushima totals 14 million cubic meters, equivalent to 11 Tokyo Domes.
• By law, final disposal outside Fukushima must occur by March 2045.
• Previous reuse trials in other municipalities faced public opposition and were halted.
Summary
On July 19, 2025, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment transported 2 cubic meters of contaminated soil from Fukushima to the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo. This initiative aims to demonstrate the potential for reusing soil with radiation levels below 8,000 becquerels per kilogram in public works. The soil, with a concentration of 6,400 becquerels/kg, was placed in the garden near the main entrance, covered with regular soil, and planted with grass. Radiation levels will be monitored weekly. This marks the first significant transport of such soil outside Fukushima, where 14 million cubic meters remain stored. The government hopes to gain public support for broader reuse, but past trials faced strong opposition. By law, all contaminated soil must be disposed of outside Fukushima by 2045.
