TOKYO: The Japanese government is concerned about the possibility that Russia will join China in banning imports of Japanese fishery products, worrying about greater reputational damage to the Japanese fisheries industry.

Russia said on Sept. 26 that it is considering the possibility of joining China in restricting the supply of fishery products from Japan, citing what it says are possible risks of radioactive contamination.

China imposed the ban on Aug. 24 immediately after Japan started releasing treated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant into the ocean. The water contains small amounts of radioactive tritium.

At a press conference on Friday, Japanese Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko said Tokyo has been providing Moscow with explanations in a careful way that the treated water does not pose a safety risk.

Also on Friday, Japanese fisheries minister Ichiro Miyashita said Russia has asked Japan to provide information regarding the amount of tritium in the treated water and methods of checking fishery products for exports. “We’ll work to avert import restrictions,” he said.

In an address to the U.N. General Assembly last month, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare urged Japan to immediately stop discharging the treated water.

Japan’s efforts to rally international support for the water discharge may fall apart. “We’ll patiently explain that there is no safety risk,” a government official said.

JIJI Press