Governor touts Fukushima products at Paris event

March 26, 2018

Paris- Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori at an event in a Paris suburb has expressed his hope to see growth in Europe-bound exports of products made in the northeastern Japan prefecture, home to the nuclear power plant where an unprecedented triple reactor meltdown occurred seven years ago.

While noting that the fight against the nuclear disaster will continue, Uchibori praised the European Union's easing last year of its import restrictions on foods from Fukushima and other Japanese prefectures, introduced after the March 2011 accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s tsunami-crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.

The promotion event, held at a shopping mall on Saturday, was flocked by a number of people, who enjoyed shopping and other activities.

Visitors tasted "anpogaki" dried persimmons and peach juice made in Fukushima. Children painted "akabeko" cow-shaped traditional local toys.

One of the visitors said the safety of products that have passed France's import criteria can be trusted. Another said that Fukushima's recovery from the nuclear disaster is remarkable, noting that the prefecture now can export processed fruits.

Later in the day, world-famous Japanese designer Junko Koshino unveiled traditional Fukushima craftworks with new designs under the "Fukushima Pride" brand.

Uchibori said that he would like people to feel Fukushima's traditions and innovations in the new craftworks.

Koshino stressed that Fukushima's traditional craftsmanship has not been affected by the nuclear disaster, adding that she wants to tell everyone that anything can be done if there are techniques. Jiji Press