Japan's PM Kan Forced Chinese and Korean Counterparts to Eat Fukushima Vegetables and Fruits

It was not enough for Prime Minister Kan to make the Emperor and Empress of Japan visit Fukushima, have them eat Fukushima food and bring some back home as souvenirs for the imperial household that has small children (including the future emperor of Japan).

(In the photo, from the left: Fukushima Governor Sato, Japan's PM Kan, Korean President Li, and Chinese Premier Wen.)

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Korean President Lee Myung-bak had to go along with Kan, visit Fukushima, and do the obligatory "It's so delicious it is safe" performance by eating cherries and cucumbers grown in Fukushima to counter "baseless rumors" that the food may be contaminated with radioactive materials. (Radiation is a rumor, and safety is a religion in Japan among TPTB, in case you haven't noticed.)

They are in Japan for the trilateral summit (which by itself irks a growing number of Japanese, but that will be another post).

From Asahi Shinbun (10:29PM JST 5/21/2011):

　２１日午後、３人の首脳は福島市内の県営あづま総合体育館を訪れた。菅首相が温首相と李大統領に近付いて「福島県産の野菜があります」と手招きし、アスパラガスやトマト、イチゴが並んだ長机の前へ。３人はサクランボをほおばり、キュウリをかじった。

On the afternoon of May 11, the three premiers visited one of the evacuation shelters (a large gym run by the prefectural government) in Fukushima City. Prime Minister Kan approached Premier Wen and President Li and invited them over to the table where the vegetables and fruits produced in Fukushima were displayed. There were asparagus, tomatoes, strawberries. The three sampled cherries and ate cucumbers.

李大統領は名取市で犠牲者に献花、黙祷（もくとう）した後、「すべての韓国国民が私に温かい心を伝えてくれと言った。（震災直後に秩序を守った）日本国民の節制された姿と勇気には世界が驚いた」と記者団に語った。

President Li dedicated flowers and prayed for the earthquake and tsunami victims in Natori City, and said "All citizens of Korea have told me to convey their deep sympathy to the Japanese. The courage and the stoicism of the Japanese people (after the quake/tsunami) has so impressed the world."

Well, I wish they hadn't been so orderly and stoic. For their stoicity and perseverance, many of them are still living in shelters, sleeping on a floor of a gym and other cavernous public halls, partitioned by cardboard.

I have nothing more to say about this silly performance by old men eating Fukushima vegetables, other than: "When these people say it's safe, don't buy, don't eat."

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