Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Six plaintiffs, ranging in age from 17 to 27, have filed a complaint in a Tokyo court after contracting thyroid cancer following the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Aged 6 to 16 during the nuclear disaster of 2011, four of the six plaintiffs must take lifelong treatment after undergoing complete removal of the thyroid gland.

In front of the Tokyo court, the plaintiffs and their supporters took green and white balloons with the date of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami – March 11 – which helped precipitate the nuclear disaster. They marched with a green and white banner.

The plaintiffs are asking Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), who they blame for the nuclear disaster, for financial compensation of 616 million yen.

At a press conference later in the day, several plaintiffs expressed concern about the ostracism and discrimination they have endured, similar to the victims of the atomic bombings who faced discrimination for marriage and finding a job.

A young plaintiff was diagnosed with cancer at age 19, and the mother of one of the plaintiffs worried about his future, knowing that thyroid cancer is never completely cured.

During a large health survey over 10 years, which involved 380,000 young residents of the prefecture, 300 young people under the age of 18 developed thyroid problems.

Thyroid cancers are relatively rare and increased after the nuclear disaster.