Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ate fish caught off the coast of Fukushima on Wednesday (Aug 30) to allay fears of radiation after the controversial release of water from Japan's crippled Okuma nuclear power plant.
Kishida was filmed eating fish caught in Fukushima to prove it was safe to eat.
A video from the Japanese prime minister's office has been released on social media as concerns are raised after the release of radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, NDTV reported.
In the video, Kishida and three officials were seen eating Fukushima fish in an attempt to defuse tensions over radiation.
While eating the fish, Kishida said, ``It's very good.'' He then urged the audience to enjoy safe and delicious Japanese seafood to support his country.
The video clip also shows Japanese leaders enjoying sashimi, boiled pork, fruit, rice and vegetables from the Fukushima region.
Earlier, Japan began discharging radioactive water from the tsunami-ravaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, overriding China's objections.
According to ABC News, Tepco, the management company of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, said that some of the purified water was released into the sea on the morning of August 24. Tokyo said that this process started with the help of the pump. After about 20 minutes the second pump is also activated to complete the first stage.
The International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations (IAEA) said last July that Japan has been able to purify the radioactive water of the Fukushima nuclear power plant as far as it is satisfactory.
They handed over the report to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and gave permission to dump the radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean.
But, at that time, China strongly objected and said, "The IAEA report cannot be a license to dump waste water into the sea."
Incidentally, the Fukushima nuclear power plant was destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Water was then used to cool the sealed metal tubes containing the fuel uranium, the tubes or rods.
Japan wants to gradually dump the water in about 1,000 special metal containers into the sea over 30 to 40 years. Before that, it was claimed to the IAEA that the water has been purified and made free of radioactivity as much as possible.
The delegation of the IAEA said in their report that they have tested, the amount of radioactivity still in the water is not harmful to the environment.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in July that representatives would be present at the Fukushima plant during the water release. Along with China, Japan's friend South Korea has also expressed concern over the incident. Even opposition came from a section of Japanese fishermen.