November 12, 2021, Signing the Agreement on Cooperation in Environmental Radioactivity Research with Tomioka Town.

Institute of Environmental Radioactivity (IER) and Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture, have agreed to cooperate in environmental radioactivity research conducted by the IER in Tomioka Town. The signing ceremony was held at the Tomioka Town Hall with the attendance of Mayor Yamamoto, Deputy Mayor Takano, and Industrial Promotion Section Chief Sakamoto from Tomioka Town, and Director Nanba and Professor Yoschenko from the IER.

Director Nanba and Professor Yoschenko explained the background of the research being conducted in Tomioka Town and the future prospects for using the research results for the restoration of the town, and Mayor Yamamoto expressed his intention to promote cooperation with the IER in view of responding the residents’ concerns about radiation. After confirming future research activities and expected results in a lively exchange of opinions by all participants, Mayor Yamamoto and Director Nanba signed the agreement.

Based on this agreement, the IER will share with the town office the results of its ongoing research on the behavior and dynamics of radiocesium in cedar and cypress in privately owned forests in Tomioka Town since 2017 This is expected to be useful for the town’s overall forest management and forestry policies and for planning research that meets the town’s needs. The observation results of radiocesium concentrations in seawater at Tomioka Fishing Port and the results of fish study in the Tomioka River will also be reported to the town office, and are expected to be reflected in the town’s future efforts for restoration.