People are all too prone to attribute Fukushima Prefecture’s post-3/11 problems to a uniquely “Fukushima” set of circumstances. But on closer observation we find that some of Fukushima’s most serious problems stem from issues that are nationwide in scope. Addressing these problems effectively will hinge on approaching them from a national perspective.
In April 2021, over 10 years after the Fukushima disaster, the Japanese government gave the green light for the release of radioactive tritium from Fukushima Daiichi into the sea. Despite knowing it would eventually run out of space to store contaminated water from the plant, the government put off a decision until the last minute, fearing opposition from the local community and neighboring countries.