Industry minister Koichi Hagiuda pledged Sunday to promote the decommissioning of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant and recovery of the area as a top priority during his first visit to the prefecture since assuming office.
Hagiuda also told Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori and the mayors of municipalities hosting the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant that his ministry will make its "best efforts" to release treated radioactive water from the facility hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is also arranging a trip to the Fukushima No. 1 complex over the next weekend as part of his first visit to the Tohoku region as leader of the country, government sources said.