Key Facts
• December 2: Prime Minister Takaiichi visited Fukushima for the first time since taking office.
• Inspected the Ishikuma area in Futaba Town, designated as a “difficult-to-return zone.”
• Local mayor requested broader recognition of “specific return residential areas” to include farmland.
• Takaiichi pledged “bold measures” to accelerate recovery for those willing to return.
• Inspected interim storage facilities for decontaminated soil, aiming for final disposal by March 2045.
• Highlighted plans for recycling soil below safety standards for reconstruction use.
• Visited the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and promised a detailed roadmap post-2030.
• Government to begin final disposal site surveys around 2030 and select a site by 2035.
Summary
Prime Minister Takaiichi’s first domestic trip since taking office focused on Fukushima’s recovery. On December 2, she visited the Ishikuma area in Futaba Town, a “difficult-to-return zone,” and pledged bold measures to support residents willing to return. Local officials emphasized the need to include farmland in recovery plans. Takaiichi also inspected interim storage facilities for decontaminated soil, reaffirming the government’s commitment to final disposal by 2045 and promoting soil recycling for reconstruction. During her visit to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, she promised a detailed roadmap for final disposal site selection, starting surveys in 2030 and finalizing by 2035. The visit underscored the government’s responsibility to accelerate recovery and ensure long-term solutions.
