Recycling contaminated soil from Fukushima: Japan's dilemma
Now, as young farmers seek to bring life back to the region once known for its delicious fruit, authorities are deliberating what to do with the mountains of removed soil — enough to fill over 10 baseball stadiums.
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Japan Times
25 minutes ago
- Japan Times
Japanese groups make united call for abolition of nuclear weapons
Three Japanese organizations working for the abolition of nuclear weapons issued a joint appeal in Tokyo on Wednesday, calling for spreading awareness of the reality of atomic bombings across the country. It was the first time ever for the groups to come together for such a unified statement, which was unveiled ahead of next month's 80th anniversary of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the closing days of World War II. The Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo) and the Japan Congress against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikin) partnered with the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) to issue the appeal. The antinuclear movement gained momentum in 1954 after the 23-member crew of the Fukuryu Maru No. 5, a Japanese fishing boat, was exposed to radioactive fallout from a U.S. hydrogen bomb test. Gensuikyo and Nihon Hidankyo were founded in the wake of intensifying public sentiment. Gensuikin was established in 1965 after splitting from Gensuikyo. "I'm deeply moved by the cooperation of large organizations on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings," Terumi Tanaka, 93, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, said at a news conference. He expressed hopes that the collaboration will encourage hibakusha — atomic bomb survivors — who are yet to share their experiences to testify. "The task of spreading the reality of atomic bombings is a challenge for all humanity," Yayoi Tsuchida, 68, a senior Gensuikyo official, said. Masashi Tani, 45, secretary-general of Gensuikin, said, "We urge the government to take action, such as by ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons," noting that "the international community is watching how Japan marks the 80th anniversary." "As the danger of nuclear weapons use grows, Japan's role is becoming increasingly important," the joint appeal said. "It is important to appeal against the inhumanity of nuclear weapons in Japan and globally by transcending differences in position."
Japan Times
an hour ago
- Japan Times
Record number of people sent to hospital for heatstroke in June, data shows
The number of people in Japan sent to hospital by ambulance in June due to heatstroke more than doubled from a year before to 17,229, the highest for the month on record dating back to 2010, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Wednesday. The previous June high was 15,969 cases, logged in 2022. Many areas across Japan experienced maximum temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or higher on multiple days last month. Of those hospitalized, 10,342 were age 65 or over, accounting for about 60% of the total. The largest share, at 6,819 cases, occurred at home or in other residential settings, followed by 3,404 cases on roads. The agency is calling on people to stay at home on days when a heatstroke alert is issued and to use air conditioners or fans appropriately.
Japan Times
2 hours ago
- Japan Times
Trump says Tokyo agreed to buy U.S. defense gear, clashing with Japan's account
Did this week's U.S.-Japan trade deal also involve spending on defense? Donald Trump seems to think so. Japan, not so much. Touting the surprise trade agreement with Japan on social media, the U.S. president claimed Wednesday that Tokyo 'had agreed to buy BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF MILITARY AND OTHER EQUIPMENT." His comments came a day after Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, told reporters in Washington that the new trade deal "does not include anything related to defense spending." Media reports quoting sources close to the talks also said that security issues had not been part of the trade discussions. It was not immediately clear if Trump was referring to pending arms deals with Tokyo. The U.S. has over $20 billion in active government-to-government sales cases with Japan under its Foreign Military Sales system as of January, U.S. State Department data shows. These purchases include advanced F-35 stealth fighters and Tomahawk cruise missiles. Japan acquires more than 90% of its defense imports from the United States and has expressed growing interest in even more advanced and interoperable technology as part of its 2022 Defense Buildup Program. The U.S. president has long taken a transactional view of what he says are Washington's 'unfair' alliances, issuing demands and threats during his first term and into his second that allies Japan and South Korea shoulder a larger security burden — or risk his ire. Tokyo, however, had been largely successful in fending off calls by Trump and his team to link security issues — including defense spending and host-nation support for the 54,000 U.S. troops in Japan — to the tariff negotiations. Just hours ahead of the first round of U.S.-Japan tariff negotiations in April, Trump claimed that 'the cost of military support' would be part of the talks. Although the move spooked Tokyo, the issue was effectively shelved after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his team repeatedly emphasized that the two issues must be dealt with separately while pointing to Japan's own unprecedented defense spending hike — to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027. But that didn't stop Trump's Pentagon from setting a 'global standard' for Japan and other U.S. allies to spend 5% of GDP on defense. Indeed, even if defense was not a part of the trade deal — implicit or otherwise — the issue is sure to become a focus of future bilateral talks. Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said in April that Tokyo 'intends to continue discussions on an appropriate track starting next year' on a cost-sharing agreement for hosting U.S. troops in Japan before its expiration in 2027. Japanese defense planners, meanwhile, are already weighing the possibility of even further boosted defense spending. A Defense Ministry panel of experts has reportedly recommended that the government consider hiking defense spending beyond 2%, and Ishiba has said that future budgets "may top 2%, if needed,' depending on the security environment.
