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Tapping the Samurai spirit to change Fukushima's image

Stringent quality control measures notwithstanding, Japan's Fukushima prefecture, which is located some 239km from Tokyo, still struggles to delink radiation exposure concerns from its produce such as vegetables, fish and rice. The July-August Tokyo Olympics will be an opportunity for Fukushima to boost its image. Will it succeed? Asia News Network editor Shefali Rekhi, who was recently in Tokyo and Fukushima, reports.

White smoke seen rising from a reactor building, in a picture taken between March 15 and April 11, 2011, at the Tepco Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after the tsunami caused a nuclear accident. Bags of rice being inspected for radiation levels in Fu
Marine products from Fukushima prefecture on display at an Aeon supermarket in Tokyo. The store’s management had to train staff and designate a special place for the products to be sold. Despite competitive pricing, it takes some effort to get shoppers to buy fish and seafood from the prefecture. ST PHOTO: SHEFALI REKHI
Fishermen and officials preparing for an auction of the day's catch in Soma city, Fukushima prefecture. The Japanese government imposes stringent standards for approval of radiation levels in edible products.
Mr Ichiro Kanke ST PHOTO: SHEFALI REKHI
White smoke seen rising from a reactor building, in a picture taken between March 15 and April 11, 2011, at the Tepco Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after the tsunami caused a nuclear accident. Bags of rice being inspected for radiation levels in Fu
NUCLEAR CRISIS: White smoke seen rising from a reactor building, in a picture taken between March 15 and April 11, 2011, at the Tepco Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after the tsunami caused a nuclear accident. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
White smoke seen rising from a reactor building, in a picture taken between March 15 and April 11, 2011, at the Tepco Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after the tsunami caused a nuclear accident. Bags of rice being inspected for radiation levels in Fu
Bags of rice being inspected for radiation levels in Fukushima. Almost every bag of rice is tested before it is released for sale. ST PHOTO: SHEFALI REKHI
Shefali Rekhi
Asia News Network Editor
Updated
Feb 04, 2020, 09:24 AM
Published
Feb 04, 2020, 05:00 AM
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Standing in front of a large image of Aizuwakamatsu castle, located in a city of the same name in Fukushima, Japan's State Minister for Reconstruction Ichiro Kanke holds forth on his promise to restore the prefecture's glory.

The charismatic minister, who hails from the same city and returns frequently for its local fare, is among those leading efforts to change perceptions of the disaster-hit prefecture as it prepares to join the rest of the country in celebrating Olympics 2020.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 04, 2020, with the headline Tapping the Samurai spirit to change Fukushima's image. Subscribe

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