As a nonsignatory to three international treaties on compensation for nuclear accidents, Japan is exposed to the risk of expensive lawsuits.
By the terms of the three treaties, damages cases stemming from nuclear accidents must be handled in the courts of the country where the accidents occurred. Two of the three treaties also provide a rough guideline of what the maximum compensation can be.
Because Japan has not signed any of them, Tokyo Electric Power Co. and the nation itself are potentially liable to pay an unlimited amount in damages from atmospheric and oceanic radiation leaking from the Fukushima No. 1 plant if, for example, fishermen in Russia and China file lawsuits in district courts of their countries.