A Fukushima fisherman's tale: Radioactive water from the Daiichi plant is flowing into the ocean at a rate of 300 tons a day

From the beginning of this disaster TEPCO has misrepresented the conditions at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.  Starting with the tsunami destroying its backup power source generators located next to the ocean to the amount and types of radiation being released by the destroyed powerplant.  

Old habits die hard among fishermen. Yoshio Ichida still rises for work every day at 3am and checks the engine of his five-ton boat. Then, as the sun rises over the Pacific and the trawler bobs gently in Soma wharf, he switches off the engine and gazes out at a sea too poisoned to fish.
Just 27 miles up the coast from this small harbour town, radioactivity from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant leaks into the ocean, and into the sardines, mackerel and squid that three generations of Mr Ichida’s family once caught.

On Monday TEPCO announced that the amount of contaminated water leaking from the plant was higher than previously reported.  Asked why they hadn't informed the public that the level of highly radioactive water leaking from Fukushima was far higher than previously reported the responded in true fashion:  They didn't want to worry the public and cause them to have stress.

 Critics have accused the NRA of allowing Tepco off the hook. After months of denials, the embattled utility was finally forced to admit the groundwater leaks last week. Many suspect the admission was conveniently delayed until Japan’s pro-nuclear Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, had solidified his power in the recent general election. Anti-nuclear voices in the media were muted during the election campaign and on occasion silenced completely: a YouTube video showing Mr Abe’s security confiscating an anti-nuclear sign during a speech in Fukushima has gone viral – but never been seen on TV.

The liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is wholly owned by Japan's nuclear power industry so it's not surprising that any form of protest during a speech by Shinzo Abe would be suppressed.

Mr Ichida is not surprised. “Tepco is still trying to hide things from us,” he says. “They haven’t changed a bit. The 54-year-old, who survived the tsunami by driving his boat into the open sea, despairs that the crisis will ever end. “We must work to revive Fukushima fishing, but it is probably not likely,” he says, choking back tears. “Why would young people go into this profession?”