Fukushima Prefecture, Japan - Recent

The Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) are facing continued legal challenges over their decision to discharge the "treated and diluted" nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, which has been criticized for infringing on rights of locals, according to Tsuguo Hirota, the lawyer representing a panel of plaintiffs.

TEPCO, which owns the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant that was damaged in a nuclear incident in 2011, received permission from the Japanese government to discharge the "treated and diluted" nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, a process that began in August last year.

The decision sparked protests and public backlash in Japan and elsewhere in the Pacific region. It also has resulted in a lawsuit against the government and TEPCO, headed up by lawyer Tsuguo Hirota on behalf of 363 plaintiffs.

Made up of fishing industry workers and ordinary residents, these plaintiffs claim the controversial dumping has caused disruption to their livelihoods and is harmful to their health.

The third round of debates is scheduled for October. Tsuguo expressed that while the legal battle may take years, the plaintiff group will continue to expand and will persevere until the end.

Shotlist:
Fukushima Prefecture, Japan - Recent:
1. Law office building;
2. Various of Tsuguo Hirota, lawyer, being interviewed;
FILE: Tokyo, Japan - June 17, 2024
3. Various of protesters holding banners, chanting slogans outside Japan's Supreme Court;
Fukushima Prefecture, Japan - Recent
4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Tsuguo Hirota, lawyer (starting with shot 3/partially overlaid with shot 5):
"Firstly, the forced discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater has caused tangible economic losses. The export volume of Japanese seafood to some regions has plummeted, leading to the bankruptcy of several companies. Initially, they claimed the discharge was harmless or posed only insignificant risks. However, as more information comes to light, it is clear that the harm is significant. The Japanese government and TEPCO have shown no respect for this reality, displaying arrogance. I want to emphasize that they should learn from history.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
FILE: Fukushima, Japan - Date Unknown
5. Aerial shots of nuclear power plant, storage tanks, sea;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Fukushima Prefecture, Japan - Recent
6. Various of Tsuguo Hirota browsing documents; documents;
7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Tsuguo Hirota, lawyer (starting with shot 6/ending with shot 8):
"I think the government's strategy is make procrastination as much as possible, just to exhaust us and make the public forget the disaster. The lawsuit should not be allowed to drift in that direction. We need to consider how to respond and focus on accelerating the legal process to achieve a result. I firmly believe the nuclear contaminated wastewater discharge is completely wrong, and I will see this through to the end.";
FILE: Tokyo, Japan - June 17, 2024
8. Various of people rallying outside Japan's Supreme Court, demanding government responsibility for Fukushima nuclear accident.

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