Japan’s Prime Minister pledges faster reconstruction around Fukushima

Tuesday 02 December 2025 - 16:00

By: Sahili Aya

Japan’s Prime Minister pledges faster reconstruction around Fukushima

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has vowed to accelerate the government’s reconstruction programs in Fukushima prefecture, an area still bearing the long-term impact of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear catastrophe, according to reports from Kyodo News.

Takaichi, visiting Fukushima for the first time since taking office in October, said her entire Cabinet is committed to treating reconstruction as a national priority. “With the resolve that every minister acts as a ‘reconstruction minister,’ we will further speed up our efforts,” she declared, reaffirming that the government will support Fukushima “until the very end.”

During the visit, she inspected the heavily damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, where she was briefed on the ongoing decommissioning work ahead of the disaster’s 15th anniversary next March. She also toured an interim storage site for contaminated soil collected during radiation cleanup operations.

The Japanese government aims to complete the disposal of the removed soil by March 2045. Takaichi expressed support for expanding its reuse in public projects nationwide. The soil has already been used experimentally in the grounds of the prime minister’s office since July and in flowerbeds near government ministries since September.

Her commitments highlight Tokyo’s determination to advance reconstruction and long-term recovery in a region that continues to symbolize resilience and national responsibility.