Takaichi Inspects Crippled Fukushima Nuclear Plant

Fukushima, Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday inspected Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s disaster-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture.

Takaichi visited the northeastern prefecture for the first time since taking office in October.

The trip was apparently intended to demonstrate her administration's focus on rebuilding areas affected by the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, ahead of the 15th anniversary next March of the tsunami-triggered nuclear meltdown accident there.

During her visit to the nuclear plant, which straddles the towns of Okuma and Futaba, the prime minister received a briefing about the progress of the decommissioning work and met with Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori.

"The decommissioning work and the discharge of (tritium-containing) treated water into the ocean are progressing safely and steadily," Takaichi told reporters.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]