Japan Blames Foreign Media Over ‘Inaccurate’ Nuke Damage Reports

With new details continuing to trickle out about the problems that occurred at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station after it was damaged by an earthquake on July 17, Japan’s Foreign Ministry and Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry is attempting to help tourism by attacking foreign media coverage of the leak:

The ministry said the leak into the air was around one-10-millionth of the amount of radiation the general public receives from the natural environment in one year, or one-millionth the amount a passenger on a round-trip flight between Tokyo and New York would receive.

“Despite such facts, misperception has circulated due in part to inaccurate reports by some overseas media and an adverse impact has regrettably been caused on travel to our country and other areas,” the statement read, in an apparent reference to the cancellation of a trip to Japan by an Italian pro soccer team after the quake.

The industry ministry also said in a statement, “Some overseas media inaccurately reported on impacts of the earthquake on the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station and consequently invited misunderstanding.”

The government thus instructed on Thursday its diplomatic missions in major countries and countries where inaccurate reports have been made to explain the quake’s impact on the power station as well as measures taken by the government in providing information to the U.N. nuclear watchdog and key nuclear powers.

In Niigata, a local government official said, “In order to stem damage by rumors, there is nothing we can do other than to disseminate correct information.”