Cancer In Fukushima Children; Japan To Export "Healthy" Produce
Channel: rumorecurioso
Date: 21/08/2013

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/index.html

THYROID CANCER FOUND IN 18 FUKUSHIMA CHILDREN
 
Medical examinations in Fukushima Prefecture following the nuclear crisis of 2011 have detected 18 children with thyroid cancer.

 The finding was reported on Tuesday by a prefectural panel examining the impact of radiation on the health of local residents.

 The prefecture is giving medical checkups to all 360,000 children aged 18 or younger at the time of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in March 2011.

 That's because radioactive substances released in the accident can accumulate in children's thyroid glands, possibly increasing their risk of developing cancer.

 Some 210,000 children had been tested by the end of July.
 Besides the 18 minors diagnosed with cancer, 25 others are suspected to have the illness.

 The incidence rate of thyroid cancer in children is said to be one in hundreds of thousands. In Japan, 46 people under 20 were diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2006.

 The panel says it cannot determine if the accident has affected the incidence of cancer among children in Fukushima. But it has decided to set up an expert team to look into the situation.

 Panel chief Hokuto Hoshi says they will carefully examine the accumulated data and individual cases so they can give explanations to residents in a responsible manner.

Aug. 20, 2013 - Updated 22:55 UTC

Japan to boost farm exports as 'healthy food'

Japan's agriculture ministry plans to prove that Japanese cuisine is healthy, with an eye to selling more farm produce abroad.

 The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe aims to boost Japanese food exports to 10 billion dollars by 2020, to help invigorate the farm sector. That's double the value of food exports in 2012.

 Ministry officials will ask researchers to conduct studies of people eating the standard Japanese diet and confirm that it can help prevent obesity.

 Officials will also work with universities and hospitals to monitor the health of elderly Japanese. They will identify specific Japanese food items that offer health benefits.
 They will ask that more than 10 million dollars of the national budget be allocated for this purpose next year.

Aug. 21, 2013 - Updated 03:03 UTC
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/japan.html

CHARTERED FLIGHT TO FUKUSHIMA CANCELLED
 
A South Korean airline has cancelled chartered flights between Seoul and Fukushima in October. It says this is because of leakage of contaminated water at the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant.

 Asiana Airlines began chartered flights between Seoul and Fukushima last December.

 The airline had scheduled one or 2 chartered flights per month from July to December this year.

 However, Fukushima Prefecture officials say the company notified them last Wednesday that it will not operate the flights in October.

 The airline said South Korean media have continually reported the leakage of contaminated underground water into the ocean from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and it's not clear whether tickets for October flights will be sold.

 The company also said it will watch developments before making a decision about flights in November and December.

 A Fukushima Prefectural official in charge of aviation exchanges, Toshio Shiomi, said the prefectural government wants the central government and the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, to resolve the leakage problem as soon as possible. He said Fukushima is a safe place to visit, and the prefecture will continue to provide information to attract tourists.

Aug. 20, 2013 - Updated 09:39 UTC

LARGE SAURY FISHING BOATS BEGIN OPERATIONS
 
Large fishing boats have left ports in northern Japan to begin the saury season. The fish is also known as mackerel pike.

 More than 50 vessels left ports in eastern Hokkaido on Tuesday for fishing grounds in the Pacific.

 Boats set out simultaneously from the port of Hanasaki at 10 AM local time. The port has boasted Japan's largest saury haul for the last 3 years.

 The fishermen catch saury by attracting them with lamps then hauling them in with rectangular nets.

 The season for the large boats was delayed for about a week this year, partly due to soaring fuel costs triggered by a weaker yen.

 Crews on smaller vessels have so far caught around 520 tons, about 40 percent less than last year. Fishermen say they hope the catch from large boats will increase the season's total haul.

 One crewmember on board a vessel said that the catches have been low so far, but that he wants to return to port with a boat full of saury.

Aug. 20, 2013 - Updated 05:03 UTC