The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has produced a short video clip on the current situation in Fukushima, in collaboration with the Support Team for Residents Affected by Nuclear Incidents under the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters under the Cabinet Office.
This video provides an easy-to-understand look into life in Fukushima today from a variety of perspectives, including the current status of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and the progress of various measures toward decommissioning, the improvements in the work environment at the actual decommissioning sites, the aid for residents affected by the nuclear incident and measures for securing food safety.
NEW!“Fukushima-Today" (2016 ver.)
Fukushima Today –For a bright future- (YouTube) 
Download the video here.
Subtitled (Japanese)(ZIP:185MB) 
Subtitled (English):(ZIP:185MB)
Brochure: Important Stories on Decommissioning
METI has prepared a reader-friendly brochure to explain the current state of TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and the decommissioning efforts thereof.
Important Stories on Decommissioning-Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, now and in the future
(Click the picture to access the PDF version.)
Contaminated Water Issue
| Measures | Progress | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove contamination source | Decontamination of contaminated water using multi-nuclide removal equipment, etc. (equipment for removing radionuclides from contaminated water) | In operation | The decontamination process is completed by the end of May 2015, except for the water contaminated during the initial period of the accident itself. The water which has undergone strontium removal will then also be treated by the multi-nuclide removal equipment as the second decontamination process. (The process is estimated to be finished following the completion of decontamination of the contaminated water stored in the tanks.) |
| Removal of highly contaminated water in the underground tunnels (trenches) on the sea side of the building | Completed | Removal of the highly contaminated water from the trenches and filling the trenches with filling material were completed in August 2015. | |
| Isolate water from contamination | Pumping from the well on the land-side of the building into the sea (groundwater bypassing system) | Completed / In operation | Drainage started in late May 2014. |
| Pumping of ground water from wells around buildings (sub-drains) and draining of the water to the sea after decontamination | Completed / In operation | Drainage of water started on September 14, 2015. | |
| Installation of land-side impermeable frozen walls | In operation | Freezing operation started in March 2016. | |
| Waterproof pavement to prevent groundwater inflow | Ongoing | Paving of the FY2015 target areas, accounting for 90% of the planned site, completed as scheduled. | |
| Prevent leakage of contaminated water | Heightening and doubling of tank fences | Completed / In operation |
Completed in the middle of July 2014. Their efficacy was proved when a typhoon struck in the autumn of 2014. |
| Ground improvement by sodium silicate (water glass) | Completed / In operation |
Completed in March 2014. | |
| Installation of sea-side impermeable walls | Completed | Sea-side impermeable walls were completed in October 2015. | |
| Increase the number of tanks | In operation (under further maintenance) | 800,000 tons of tank capacity was secured during FY 2014, two years earlier than the time projected in the previous Mid- and Long-Term Roadmap. | |
Countermeasures to Manage Contaminated Water
Efforts made for decommissioning
Fuel removal from the spent fuel pool (SFP) at Unit 4
Concerning the Unit 4 SFP, which was said to have the highest risk among all SFPs at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the transfer of 1535 fuel rods from the SFP (including 204 unused fuel rods) to facilities such as the common pool within the power station site* was completed.
(*Note: Some of the unused fuel rods were moved to the Unit 6 SFP, where no accident had occurred.)
The fuel removal began on November 18, 2013. The transfer of high-risk spent fuel was completed on November 5, 2014. The transfer of all spent fuel was completed on December 22, 2014.
Dismantling of the Unit 1 R/B cover and removal of rubble
Concerning the Unit 1 R/B, it is necessary to remove the rubble that has accumulated in the upper portion of the Unit 1 R/B, in order to remove the fuel in the SFP. Therefore, currently, the R/B cover is being dismantled.
The R/B cover will be steadily dismantled, with anti-scattering measures such as the spraying of anti-scattering agents fully implemented and radioactive materials monitored.
Progress of the removal of large pieces of rubble inside the Unit 3 SFP
Concerning the Unit 3 R/B, the removal of rubble that fell into the SFP is proceeding before removing the fuel in the SFP. On August 2, 2015, the removal of the largest pieces of rubble that had been present in the SFP (with a fuel-handling machine) was completed.
Putting the highest priority on the improvement of safety at the time of construction work and the reduction of the exposure for workers, a portion of the cover for fuel removal used for removing fuel rods was assembled in Onahama, Iwaki City, which is located around 60 km away from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. After removal of the rubble is completed, the cover for fuel removal is to be carried in, and a fuel-handling machine is to be installed.
