(Mar 16, 2018)

US Ambassador to Japan William F. Hagerty's visit to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

March 16, 2018

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc.

Fukushima Daiichi Decontamination & Decommissioning Engineering Company

Today, US Ambassador to Japan William F. Hagerty visited the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and offered words of encouragement to TEPCO employees and contractors engaged in decommissioning.

The visit by the Ambassador was very encouraging for TEPCO employees and all contractors who have steadily engaged in the decommissioning process one step at a time during the seven years since the accident. At the same time, it was also an opportunity to reaffirm our conviction and responsibility to complete decommissioning, so that no further inconveniences are caused on the people of Fukushima Prefecture, Japanese society and the rest of the world.

Whereas we have freed ourselves from the confusion that ensued immediately after the accident, the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi is a task unlike any other that we have experienced, and there are still many problems to solve. It is essential that we continue to acquire knowledge from all over the world in order to find solutions to these issues.

We have received enormous support and cooperation from the US government since the Fukushima Nuclear Accident, and during his visit today, Ambassador Hagerty commented encouragingly that, "What you are doing here to rebuild Fukushima and the Tohoku region is remarkable, and I look forward to returning in the months and years to come as I continue as U.S. Ambassador to Japan to see your progress, and get to know more of the people here and learn about your courage and resilience."

We are deeply grateful for such strong words of encouragement and we will continue to move steadily and safely forward with decommissioning with the help and cooperation of the United States and the rest of the world.

Reference Documents

-Statement from the US Embassy

-Photographs from US Ambassador to Japan William F. Hagerty's visit to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station