This Year's Tea from Shizuoka with 12.37 Bq/kg of #Radioactive Cesium, Measured the Old Way (Dry Leaves)

Whatever the national government or the prefectural governments (particularly the hilarious Shizuoka Prefecture with the Oxford-grad governor) say, the retailers are testing green tea the old way - measuring the dry leaves - for their customers.

Here's a notice from Green Co-op on May 14, 2012, informing the customers that the organic first-pick "Fukamushi" green tea from Shizuoka Prefecture 100-gram package was found with:

cesium-134: 4.98 bq/kg
cesium-137: 7.39 bq/kg
Total: 12.37 bq/kg

They also tested the liquid after the tea was brewed, according to the new guideline from the government, and the cesium levels were below detection levels.

Green Co-op's own safety standard, the notice says, is 10 becquerels/kg of cesium in dry leaves. This particular Shizuoka tea exceeded the standard, but after consulting the directors of the co-op the management decided to offer the tea to the customers anyway. The reason for offering it to the customers even if the level exceeded its own safety standard is not given.

For numbers comparing the radioactivity measured in dry leaves and measured in brewed tea, go to my April post, which shows last year's examples from Shizuoka Prefecture.

There are several brands of green tea in other prefectures that have tested close to 10 bq/kg in brewed tea. The highest so far this year is the tea from a town in Ibaraki Prefecture, which tested 9.3 bq/kg in brewed tea. If you apply the last year's numbers from Shizuoka Prefecture, the dry leaves may have between 700 and 1000 bq/kg of radioactive cesium, far exceeding the provisional safety limit of 500 bq/kg effective until April 1, 2012. But since it passes the test under the new method of measuring brewed tea, the tea passed the test with flying colors, and the Ibaraki prefectural government says it will negotiate with the national government for lifting the shipping ban.

Having looked at the prefectural government sites so far, there is none who measures the green tea the old way.

Tweet

Minister of the Environment Goshi Hosono to Shimada City in Shizuoka: "Thank you for burning the debris, we're cheering for you by drinking your tea"

This is just absolutely sickening.

Shimada City in Shizuoka Prefecture, whose mayor is deeply involved in the corruption over waste management in the city, has decided to go ahead with test burning of the disaster debris from Iwate Prefecture against fierce opposition from the city residents and citizens in neighboring cities and prefectures. The ashes after incineration will be buried in the final disposal site for regular garbage and industrial waste in the city.

To reward such an exemplary behavior, joyous Goshi Hosono, Minister of the Environment, tells the city that he has made green tea from Shimada City as the drink at the ministry.

From Jiji Tsushin (2/3/2012):

「島田のお茶」でエール＝がれきの試験焼却受け－細野環境相

"We're cheering for you by drinking your tea", says Minister Hosono to Shimada City for its decision to test burn the debris

　細野豪志環境相は３日の閣議後記者会見で、静岡県島田市が東日本大震災で生じた岩手県山田町のがれきの試験焼却実施を決めたことを受け、省内幹部の部屋で飲むお茶を同市産にしたことを明らかにした。東京電力福島第１原子力発電所事故に伴う汚染への懸念から、被災地のがれきの広域処理が進まない中、受け入れに意欲を示す同市にエールを送った形だ。

Minister of the Environment Goshi Hosono revealed during the press conference on February 3 after the cabinet meeting that he switched the tea drunk by the ministry officials to the tea made in Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Shimada City has just announced it will test burn the disaster debris from Yamada-cho in Iwate Prefecture. As the wide-area processing of the disaster debris is not going well due to the concern for the radiation contamination from the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident, Minister Hosono, by switching the tea to the Shimada City's tea, is cheering for the city eager to accept the debris.

　会見で細野環境相は「もともとコーヒー党だが、今はもっぱら島田のお茶」と述べた。同省によると、各局職員らが親ぼく費で購入するお茶についても、島田茶の使用を呼び掛けているという。

In the press conference, Minister Hosono said, "I've been a coffee drinker, but right now all I drink is Shimada's tea." The Ministry of the Environment is encouraging the workers at the ministry to purchase Shimada tea for their consumption at work.

Shimada City is located in central Shizuoka, population slightly less than 100,000. Its main industry is tea growing on Makinohara Plateau, the largest tea growing region in Shizuoka and thus the largest in Japan.

Mayor Sakurai has said that he will go ahead with the test burning even though the residents of the district where the incinerator is located haven't agreed to the burning. He says, "I explained everything, nothing more to say to them. It's the time for decision."

Several meetings were held between the city officials and the residents, and the city stuffed the meetings with hired shills to boost their side. The officials even said the residents didn't matter anyway as the neighborhood community leaders were all for it.

Mayor Sakurai was the president of the city's only industrial waste processing company before he became the major. Currently, his relative (son or brother) is the president, running the company, and the mayor remains one of the largest shareholders.

Shimada City has declining population and declining amount of garbage. The incineration plant apparently cannot be used unless the furnace is at least 60% full. If that's true, it may be a relic from the bubble days in 1980s - a big incinerator, bigger than the city ever would have needed.

Disaster debris from Tohoku must be heaven-sent for the mayor.

The incineration plant is right near the water source for the city.

(If you read Japanese, this is a Togetter on "low down on Shimada City's decision to accept disaster debris".)

Tweet

Shizuoka Prefecture Goes to New York with Green Tea, Again, to Educate US Consumers about Safety

This time, Heita Kawakatsu, the Oxford-grad governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, is using young Shizuoka people to push his radioactive tea to New Yorkers instead of going there himself.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (12/13/2011):

福島原発事故の風評被害を吹き飛ばそうと、日本一の荒茶生産量を誇る静岡県は１２日、米ニューヨーク中心部の和菓子店で深蒸し茶を振る舞い安全性をＰＲした。

Wanting to completely dispel the baseless rumors after the Fukushima I Nuke Plant accident, representatives from Shizuoka Prefecture, the largest producer of "ara-cha" (bulk tea) in Japan, served "fukamushi-cha" [tea made by steaming the leaves longer) at a Japanese confectionery store in the center of New York City on December 12 as part of the PR event to appeal safety.

　原発事故後、同県産の茶の一部から国の暫定規制値を超える放射性セシウムが検出された。しかし流通している茶は、飲んでも健康に影響がないことを消費者に理解してもらうのが狙い。

After the nuclear accident, some of the teas produced in Shizuoka were found with radioactive cesium exceeding the provisional safety limit set by the national government. However, the event was to educate [the US] consumers that there would be no effect on health if they drank teas that were being sold in the marketplace.

　高校生アリアナ・ソロモンさん（１７）は「日本のお茶は祖母が毎日飲むので私も大好き」と話し、静岡茶を味わっていた。

Arianna Solomon, 17-year-old high school student, enjoyed the Shizuoka tea. "My grandmother drinks Japanese tea every day. I like it too."

"Some" Shizuoka teas were indeed found with radioactive materials exceeding the Japanese provisional safety limit (500 becquerels/kg). What the newspaper fails to mention is that radioactive cesium was found in almost all the Shizuoka teas tested.

The US peacetime limit for radioactive cesium in water and drinks is 3.0 picocuries, or 0.1 becquerel/liter. The same for food is 170 becquerels/kg.

The US FDA has the Derived Intervension Level (DIL) which is 1200 becquerels/kg, and the level of concern at 370 becquerels/kg to govern the domestic food in interstate commerce and the imported food as a non-enforceable "recommendation". But this is NOT a nuclear emergency for the United States, in which the citizens would suffer without food and drinks if the government did not raise the limits for radioactive materials in food and drinks in interstate commerce or from import.

Scanning the official webpage of Shizuoka Prefecture where the results of tea testing are published, you'll notice that testing seems to have been one bag at one tea plantation in one city. We know how well the similar testing of rice in Fukushima Prefecture has turned out to be.

• Number of teas that tested with radioactive cesium: all of 102 samples tested
  

• Number of teas that tested between 100 and 370 becquerels/kg): 46
  

• Number of teas that tested above the "level of concern"(370 becquerels/kg) in the US: 21
  

• Number of teas that tested above the provisional safety limit of Japan: 7
  

• Number of teas that tested above the DIL in the US: 0

Shizuoka's webpage has a limited number of tests on brewed tea, using 10 grams of dried tea leaves and brewing for 60 seconds with 430 milliliters of water at 90 degrees Celsius. The results are between 1.6 and 14 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium in brewed tea.

I drink 3, 4 cups of green tea every day. That's about 500 milliliters per day. If I were drinking the Shizuoka tea that had 14 becquerels/kg of cesium after it was brewed, I would ingest 14 becquerels of radioactive cesium every two days. In one year, I would have 2555 becquerels of radioactive cesium total, more than half of which would be retained in the body, looking at the ICRP chart below (from ICRP Publication 111).

I think I'll stay away from teas grown in Shizuoka, or anywhere in Kanto region, but it's my personal decision based on the information that I have digested since March 11.

Tweet

#Radioactive Debris: Mayors in Shizuoka Prefecture Welcome With Open Arms

Money speaks.

Like governor (the one who went crazy over radioactive tea in his prefecture and who was so ready to restart Hamaoka Nuke Plant in late March), like mayors. Sorry residents.

From Asahi Shinbun (11/11/2011):

静岡県の市長会（会長、鈴木尚・富士市長）と町村会（会長、遠藤日出夫・長泉町長）は１０日、被災地のがれき受け入れに前向きに取り組む共同声明をまとめた。全国市長会によると「がれき処理受け入れの市長会声明は聞いたことはない」という。

The Association of City Mayors in Shizuoka Prefecture (Chairman Hisashi Suzuki, Mayor of Fuji City) and the Association of Town/Village Mayors (Chairman Hideo Endo, Mayor of Nagaizumi-cho) compiled the joint declaration on November 10 to accept debris from the disaster-affected areas. According to the Japan Association of City Mayors, "The declaration by the Association of City Mayors anywhere to accept disaster debris is unheard of."

　同県の川勝平太知事が「他人事ではない。何とかできないか」と要請。３５首長らが話し合い（１）がれきの安全性（２）住民合意（３）議会の理解、などの環境を整えたうえで「各市町の実情にあった協力をしていく」との声明をまとめた。

Heita Kawakatsu, governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, requested the mayors to come up with some plan, as the governor felt the problem as his own. 35 mayors got together to discuss, and came up with the declaration to cooperate depending on the situation in each city/town/village after ensuring 1) the debris is safe; 2) the residents agree; 3) city assemblies agree.

Looking at Tokyo, (1) can be rigged, (2) and (3) can be easily ignored. They are burning away those debris and burying them in the landfill in Tokyo Bay, every single day.

Tweet

#Radiation in Japan: A Shizuoka Tea Plantation Declares "Our Green Tea Is SAFE!" with 175 Bq/kg of Radioactive Cesium

Totally in line with the radioactive chestnut story from the yesterday's post, where a grocer uses a certificate of 44 becquerels/kg of cesium from the chestnuts as a sales promotional tool.

A tea plantation in Shizuoka proudly displays the certificate that says the tea from the plantation contains 175 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium, as the proof of safety.

Why safe? Because it is below the provisional "safety" limit set by the national government, of course. The tea plantation says their tea is also exported.

From the website of Ohkuraen tea plantation, which declares "Our green tea is SAFE!":


(H/T William Milberry)

Tweet

#Radioactive Mushroom: 1,033 Bq/Kg of Radioactive Cesium from Dried Shiitake in Shizuoka Prefecture

There's always "the first"..

From Jiji Tsushin (10/7/2011):

静岡県は７日、同県伊豆市内で生産・加工された乾燥シイタケについて販売業者が行った自主検査で、食品衛生法の暫定規制値（１キロ当たり５００ベクレル）を超える１０３３ベクレルの放射性セシウムが検出されたと発表した。これを受け県は８日、生産者が保管していた同じ加工品について、放射性物質検査を実施する。

Shizuoka Prefecture announced on October 7 that 1,033 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium exceeding the provisional safety limit of 500 becquerels/kg was found in the dried shiitake mushrooms produced and processed in Izu City in Shizuoka. It was found by a voluntary testing by a retailer. The prefectural government plans to conduct its own testing of the remaining products kept at the producer on October 8.

　県によると、乾燥シイタケは３～４月に伊豆市で収穫され、４月中旬までに同市内で加工された。生産者は県内外５カ所の業者に販売。一部は既に消費されたとみられるが、販売先の業者はいずれも自主的に撤去したという。

According to the prefectural government, the shiitake mushrooms in question were harvested in Izu City in March and April, and processed in the city by the middle of April. The producer sold to 5 retailers in and out of Shizuoka. Some are considered to have been already consumed, but the retailers have voluntarily removed the mushrooms from their stores.

If the mushrooms were harvested in that time period, radioactive cesium must be from the fallout on the surface of the mushrooms. The Ministry of Education is yet to conduct the aerial survey of Shizuoka Prefecture, and the Hayakawa radiation contour map only shows the east side of the Izu Peninsula with some radiation. Izu City is located in the center of the peninsula.

(The map showing the location of Izu City is from this blog. Thank you.)

Tweet

Shizuoka Governor Kawakatsu Entertains NY Tea Drinkers

(Updated with new information on the US radiation standard, at the bottom.)

The Oxford PhD governor strikes again, this time in New York, telling green tea lovers in the city that Shizuoka tea is safe because it has tested below the safety limit and it's good for their health. He also reminds them that Shizuoka is very far from Fukushima.

I suppose there aren't many green tea lovers in New York who read my blog. If they had read my blog, they could have told the governor what he was saying was plain wrong.

(Now, readers of this blog, can you spot what's wrong with the governor's statement?)

From Asahi Shinbun (7/15/2011):

茶葉の放射能汚染問題をめぐり、日本一の茶どころ静岡県の川勝平太知事が１４日、ニューヨークで緑茶愛好家の集まりに参加し、静岡産のお茶の安全性をアピールした。

Governor Heita Kawakatsu of Shizuoka Prefecture joined a gathering of green tea lovers in New York on July 14 and appealed the safety of the teas grown in Shizuoka Prefecture, the largest tea producer in Japan.

　日本のお茶の輸出先のうち、米国は４６％を占める最大の市場。原発事故の影響を不安視する声を打ち消すため、和食ブームが盛んなニューヨークで直接、消費者に安全性を訴えたかったという。

The US is the largest market for Japan's tea export with 46% share. The governor said he wanted to dispel the anxiety due to the Fukushima nuke accident and appeal the safety directly to consumers in New York, where the Japanese food is popular.

　川勝知事は静岡県が原発事故があった福島県から離れていることや、県内産地の乾燥茶葉の検査では放射性セシウムが基準値以下だったことを説明。「静岡のお茶は安全なだけでなく健康にもいい」と訴えた。会場では、緑茶の様々な楽しみ方が紹介された。

Governor Kawakatsu explained that Shizuoka Prefecture was far away from Fukushima Prefecture where the accident happened, and that the survey of the dried teas in the prefecture's tea growing regions showed that the levels of radioactive cesium were below the safety limit. He said, "Shizuoka's tea is not only safe but good for your health." At the gathering, there were demonstrations on how to enjoy green tea in different ways.

　全米茶業協会のシムレイニー会長は会場で「日本の緑茶は世界に代わるものがない。教えてもらったデータを協会のホームページで公開すれば、震災後、鈍くなった売り上げも元に戻るだろう」と話した。

The Tea Association of the US's chairman said, "There's nothing in the world like green tea from Japan. If we upload the data [that the governor has given us] to our homepage, the sale of green tea will be back to normal."

Answers to the question of what's wrong with the governor's statement:

1. Shizuoka is far away from Fukushima, so what? That does not change the fact that radioactive materials have been falling in Shizuoka since the Fukushima blowup, and hasn't stopped at the prefectural border (although initially some people in Shizuoka actually claimed that the Hakone Mountains blocked the radiation).

2. The statement that "the levels of radioactive cesium were below the safety limit" is plain wrong. French authorities confiscated the green tea grown and processed in Shizuoka Prefecture when that tea tested over 1000 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium, twice the loose safety limit of Japan and the EU. Also, the tea from Warashina District tested higher than the 500 becquerels/kg limit, which was first discovered by Radish Boya, an online grocer in Tokyo.

3. Standard? What standard? The radiation safety limit for food in the US is 170 becquerels/kg. Of all teas from Shizuoka's tea growing regions, only 4 would be considered safe, being below 170 becquerels/kg. The data is right there in the Shizuoka prefectural government website.

If the governor tries to get away by saying the radioactive materials in the brewed tea in a teacup tested below the safety limit, that's also wrong. The Shizuoka government website also has that data, which shows between 1.6 and 14 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium. Since it is water that is used to brew the tea, we can translate this as having 1.6 to 14 becquerels/liter of radioactive cesium. It sure clears the Japan's extremely loose standard after Fukushima, which is 200 becquerels/liter.

However, the US standard for drinks is 0.11 becquerels/liter. None of the Shizuoka tea, even when brewed, would pass the safety standard of the US. Several would fail the WHO standard, which is 10 becquerels/liter.

Maybe the Tea Association chairman didn't know about the standards in the US. Or maybe the strict standards have been modified quietly in the US just like the EU did.

The chairman is right in saying "There's nothing in the world like green tea from Japan." There's nothing like it, but unfortunately not in a sense he probably means.

An anonymous reader linked the FDA document on the US standards on radionuclides. It looks to be the standards in the time of nuclear emergency (I could be wrong), and for food items, for adults, the intervention level for radioactive cesium is 1,200 becquerels/kg, and the level of concern is 370 becquerels/kg. The document is here.

Tweet

#Radioactive Tea in Shizuoka: Shizuoka City Mayor Launches "We Are Drinking Teas Made in Shizuoka City" Campaign

The Oxford PhD governor of Shizuoka has found a strong ally in the 49-year-old mayor of Shizuoka City.

The tea that the French authorities seized at the airport in Paris for high cesium level exceeding the safety limit by more than 100% came from Shimizu-ku in Shizuoka City.

Undeterred, Mayor Nobuhiro Tanabe has gone on the offensive. He said on June 23 that he will launch a campaign titled "We Are Drinking 'Teas Made in Shizuoka City'". He intends to work closely with the city's tea industry and force, oops, promote the teas made in Shizuoka City to consumers.

Again, radiation is a rumor, baseless rumor in Shizuoka, and in many, many places. Why is it so hard to see that if, say 300 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium is found in the tea, even if the amount is below Japan's loose provisional standard of 500 becquerels/kg, the tea is radioactive by definition? In Shizuoka City's case, it was over 1000 becquerels/kg.

Drink away, mayor. But don't force others to drink with you and do study some science.

Mainichi Shinbun Regional (Shizuoka) Version (6/24/2011):

静岡市葵区と清水区内の製茶から、暫定規制値を超える放射性セシウムが検出されたことを受け、静岡市の田辺信宏市長は２３日、「私たちは、『静岡市 のお茶』を飲んでいます」プロジェクトを始めることを明らかにした。田辺市長は、「市産のお茶を積極的に飲むことで、風評被害を払しょくしていきたい」と 話した。 　同プロジェクトでは、行政と市産業界が一体となって、市産のお茶の購入と飲用を推進する。また、賛同者の氏名をインターネット上で公表し、静岡茶の愛飲者の輪を広げていくという。

In response to radioactive cesium that was detected in the tea made in Aoi-ku and Shimizu-ku in Shizuoka City [in Shizuoka Prefecture], Nobuhiro Tanabe, major of Shizuoka City said he will launch a new project named "We Are Drinking 'Teas Made in Shizuoka City'". The mayor wants to "wipe out the baseless rumors by drinking the teas made in the City". In this project, the municipal government and the city's tea industry will promote the sales and consumption of the teas made in Shizuoka City to consumers. They will also publish the names of those who support the project on the internet as Shizuoka tea lovers.

Tweet

#Radioactive Tea in France: Correction from Shizuoka, It Was Green Tea After All

and not the green tea blended with roasted rice. It was exported by the same tea merchant who was indignant that his tests never showed the level exceeding the limit (500 becquerels/kilogram).

From Yomiuri Shinbun (6:45PM JST 6/21/2011):

静岡県は２１日、フランスで欧州連合（ＥＵ）の規制値を超える放射性セシウムが検出された県産茶が玄米茶ではなく緑茶と訂正した。

The Shizuoka prefectural government announced on June 21 that it was not "Genmai-cha" (tea with roasted brown rice) but "Ryoku-cha" (green tea) that was found in France to contain radioactive cesium exceeding the limit of the EU.

　発表によると、緑茶は同県御前崎市の業者が玄米茶とともに輸出。ＥＵの規制値（１キロ・グラム当たり５００ベクレル）を上回る１０３８ベクレルを検出しており、県は回収して検査する。

According to the announcement, the green tea was exported along with the "genmai-cha" by the same tea merchant in Omaezaki City in Shizuoka. The tea measured 1,038 becquerels/kilogram cesium, exceeding the EU limit of 500 becquerels/kilogram. Shizuoka will test the tea.

"Aracha" (bulk tea before the final blend) from 3 tea-growing areas in Kanagawa Prefecture (east of Shizuoka Prefecture) is found with radioactive cesium exceeding 1,000 becquerels/kilogram. The Kanagawa prefectural government has asked the tea growers in these areas on a voluntary basis not to ship their teas, as Asahi Shinbun reports (6/22/2011).

Tweet

#Radioactive Tea in France Was Made in Shizuoka

The producer says it can't be that radioactive. When he had it measured, it was 400 becquerels per kilogram at most.

From Asahi Shinbun (6/20/2011):

フランス政府が、静岡の茶から欧州連合（ＥＵ）の基準の２倍にあたる１キロ当たり１０３８ベクレルの放射性セシウムを検出したと発表した問題で、静 岡県は２０日、輸出時に発行した証明書から、この茶葉は同県御前崎市の茶商工業者が製造した玄米茶だと発表した。ただ、業者は、茶葉の自主検査では基準 （１キロ当たり５００ベクレル）を下回っていたとしている。

Shizuoka Prefecture announced on June 20 that the tea from which the French authorities detected 1,038 becquerels/kg cesium, twice the EU limit, has been traced to the "Genmai-cha" (tea mixed with roasted brown rice) produced by a tea merchant in Omaezaki City in Shizuoka, based on the export license record. However, the merchant insists that it was less than the safety limit (500 becquerels/kg) when he had the tea leaves tested on his own.

　同県経済産業部によると、この商品はフランスへの輸出用で、国内での流通は無いという。重量比で約４５％を占める玄米は昨年以前に収穫したもので、残り が今年の一番茶。茶葉は、県内の複数の産地にある自社茶園で栽培したものを交ぜており、県外産はブレンドしていないという。

According to the Economy and Industry Division of the Shizuoka prefectural government, this product is for export only to France, and is not sold in Japan. The tea is a combination of 45% (by weight) roasted brown rice (the rice was harvested last year or prior) and the "ichiban-cha" ("first pick of the season" tea, or new tea). The tea leaves came from the tea plantation that the merchant has in several growing regions in Shizuoka, and no out-of-Shizuoka tea leaves were blended.

...一方、この業者は朝日新聞の取材に対し、検査結果に疑問を呈した。茶葉の６回の自主検査では、最も高い数値でも１キロ当たり約４００ベクレルだったとい う。業者は「玄米が半分近く交ざっているのに、この検査結果は納得できない。基準を上回ったことは一度もない」と強調した。

...Responding to the Asahi Shinbun's inquiry, the merchant expressed doubt over the test result. He said he had the tea leaves tested 6 times, and the highest radiation detected was 400 becquerels per kilogram. He said, "The test result is impossible, because the tea is mixed with roasted brown rice. [In my tests] it never exceeded the limit."

Tweet

#Radioactive Tea in France: Shizuoka Governor Tells France Tea Is Safe, "No Problem"

Besides, the tea leaves may not be from Shizuoka anyway, says his government.

The Oxford PhD (in comparative economic history) governor of Shizuoka strikes again, responding to the news that the French authorities confiscated the radioactive tea from Shizuoka Prefecture at the Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris for the high radioactive cesium count (1038 becquerels per kilogram), more than twice the safety limit for the EU. (I'm rather surprised that it's that high in the EU.)

From Asahi Shinbun (10:43PM JST 6/18/2011):

「静岡」の茶から基準を超える放射性物質が検出されたとのフランス政府の発表を受け、静岡県の川勝平太知事はコメントを発表し、「仮に製茶の数値が １千ベクレルだとしても飲用茶にすれば１０ベクレル程度になる。飲んでもまったく問題ないと考える」と県の独自調査の結果を示して安全性を強調。その上で 「情報を確認し、早急に輸出ルートを調査する」とした。

Governor Heita Kawakatsu of Shizuoka Prefecture issued a comment in response to the French government's announcement that the radioactive materials have been detected in Shizuoka tea in excess of the safety limit, and said "Even if the final blend tea measured 1,000 becquerels/kilogram, when you brew it the number will go down to about 10 becquerels. I don't think there's any problem at all if you drink the tea." He emphasized the safety of Shizuoka tea showing the survey done by the prefecture. He added that his government "will verify the French information, and investigate the export route."

　茶の輸出手続きを担当する同県経済産業部によると、フランスで検査対象となった茶の最終加工地が「静岡」だった可能性はあるものの、県内では他県産や海外産の茶葉を加工して出荷する場合もあり、茶葉自体がどこで生産されたものかはまだ分からないという。

The Economy and Industry Division of the Shizuoka prefectural government, who is in charge of export control of the teas from Shizuoka, said it was possible that the tea tested in France was final-blended in Shizuoka, but that didn't mean the tea leaves themselves were grown and harvested in Shizuoka. The division said the tea leaves from other prefectures and even from overseas are processed in Shizuoka and then shipped.

I don't have a PhD so I defer to the expert judgment of the governor, who must know more than we the mere non-PhD mortals do.

Tweet

#Radioactive Tea: Shizuoka Governor Accuses NHK of Spreading "Baseless Rumor"

Again, in "Newspeak" in post-Fukushima Japan, "baseless rumor" means "radioactivity".

(Other "newspeak" examples: "Safe" means "dangerous and/or radioactive and to be avoided", and "no immediate health concern" means "there's long-term health concern".)

But this Oxford PhD governor of Shizuoka is hilarious. In his mind, the report in the newspaper and TV that some of Shizuoka's teas have been found with radioactive cesium exceeding the national safety limit is an unconscionable lie. He accuses the press for saying all Shizuoka's teas are radioactive, when none of them said anything remotely resembling that.

The governor must be suffering a hysteria episode of a different kind.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (8:58AM JST 6/15/2011):

　製茶から国の暫定規制値を超える放射性セシウムが検出された問題で、静岡県の川勝知事は１４日の記者会見で、「報道が風評被害をあおっている」とＮＨＫを名指しで厳しく批判した。

Concerning the detection of radioactive cesium exceeding the national provisional level from the "seicha" (final blend tea) in Shizuoka, Governor Kawakatsu held a press conference on June 14 and harshly criticized NHK for creating the "baseless rumor" [on Shizuoka's tea].

　川勝知事は「風評被害の最たるものは、一部のここにいる人たちです。９日の９時台の全国ニュースは、『静岡県で暫定規制値を上回るものが出た』。なんというふらちなことだ。一局所を全体であるかのごとく報道する、本当に道義的に問われるべきだ」と激しい口調で批判した。

Governor Kawakatsu breathlessly accused the press, "The culprits for the baseless rumor are right here [he means the press]. On June 9, on the 9 o'clock national news [on NHK], they reported 'some tea in Shizuoka exceeded the provisional safety limit for radioactive materials.' What nonsense! They report as if the teas in entire Shizuoka Prefecture are radioactive. It is truly unconscionable."

　さらに、「公器であることをわきまえなさい。１面トップや、ＮＨＫを見た人が、見出しと報道で、静岡茶は全部やられたと思っています。一部をもって、全体にした反省をしていただきたい。責任重大ですよ、君たち」と批判を続けた。

He continued, "Be responsible as the public media. People who read the newspaper headlines or watched NHK News now think all Shizuoka teas are radioactive. I demand that you apologize for having exaggerated. You will be held responsible, do you understand?"

　ＮＨＫ名古屋放送局広報部は、取材に対し、「報道した内容は事実です。知事の発言についてコメントすることはありません」と話した。

NHK's Nagoya Station said "We reported the facts and we stand by our report. We have no comments on the governor's remarks."

Tweet

#Radioactive Tea: Shizuoka Government Told Online Food Grocer Not to Publish the Test Result for Tea on Their Website

It can't get any better. (But that's what I've thought ever since March 11 and I've been wrong.)

It was the proverbial "fly in the ointment" when an online food grocer (home delivery of fresh produce) alerted the Shizuoka prefectural government that one of Shizuoka's teas tested high in radioactive cesium according to the grocer's test. For Shizuoka, it was going to be a "clean bill of health" for all teas in Shizuoka when they started testing the final products, "seicha". 8 tea-growing regions tested below the limit on June 8, and 11 more regions were going to do the same on June 9.

But this grocer came forward with the information that one of the teas were radioactive, exceeding the national limit. So the government was forced to test that particular tea, and it was indeed exceeding the limit.

But it was not before the prefecture told the grocer not to publish the data, because the prefectural government was already doing the minimum necessary to alert the consumer. Their words.

In other countries, this kind of arrogant behavior by the producer ignoring the safety of the consumers may result in boycott of the product.

From Asahi Shinbun (4:15AM JST 6/10/2011):

静岡県が、自主検査で国の基準を超える放射性物質が検出されたとホームページ（ＨＰ）で公表しようとした東京都内の食品通販業者に、公表を控えるよう求めていたことが分かった。

It has been revealed that the Shizuoka prefectural government requested the online food grocer in Tokyo that the grocer not publish on the grocer's home page the result of the test for radioactive materials in Shizuoka tea that exceeded the national provisional limit.

　有機野菜などの会員制宅配サービスを行う「らでぃっしゅぼーや」（東京都港区）。同社は自主検査で基準を超えたと６日に県に報告。この際、ＨＰでの公表を県が控えるよう求めたという。同社は商品を購入した会員に、経緯と商品回収の意向を伝える手紙を郵送したという。

The grocer is "Radish Boya" (Minato-ku, Tokyo) that does home delivery service of organic vegetables to its members. The grocer informed the Shizuoka prefectural government on June 6 that the Shizuoka tea they tested exceeded the provisional limit for radioactive materials in teas. Upon being alerted, the Shizuoka government demanded the grocer withhold the information and not publish it on the grocer's website. Accordingly, the grocer sent out letters to the members who bought the tea explaining the reason for the recall.

　県経済産業部は「消費者への連絡など最低限のことはやっている。ＨＰで出すとかえって不安を広げかねない」と説明している。

The Economy and Industry Division of the Shizuoka prefectural government explains, "We're doing the minimum that's necessary to alert the consumers. If the information is published on a website, it may spread unnecessary fear."

The grocer "Radish Boya" is well-known for the high-priced but high-quality and safe organic vegetables and foods, according to my contact in Tokyo.

Tweet

One Shizuoka Tea Tested 679 Becquerels/Kg Cesium in the Final Product

In the morning of June 9 (JST) a local newspaper in Shizuoka Prefecture (Shizuoka Shinbun) vocally questioned the national government policy on the allowed radiation level for teas in various stages of tea processing. By the nightfall the paper had to report that radioactive cesium exceeding that level was detected in the final tea ("seicha") in one of the 11 tea-growing regions whose test results were announced on June 9.

The results for the other 8 tea-growing regions had been announced on June 8, and the growers and tea merchants in Shizuoka were much relieved to see that the numbers for radioactive cesium were below the provisional limit of 500 becquerels per kilogram and declared the Shizuoka tea to be "safe". (They were actually surprisingly high numbers; they were all in 3 digits, the highest being 385 becquerels/kg.)

(When they declare "safe", flee.)

When the paper questioned the validity of the 500 becquerels/kg standard, it cited, of all things, the minutes of the Nuclear Safety Commission's meeting, in which several commissioners expressed their opinion that the standard should be "flexible" (as I posted on June 2). Shizuoka Shinbun took it to mean that the opinion of the nuclear experts at the Nuclear Safety Commission was not reflected in the policy, which is too severe to the tea-growers and tea-merchants in the prefecture.

The Nuclear Safety Commission, as quoted by Shizuoka Shinbun, is of the opinion that the provisional safety limit should not be used as the guideline to restrict sales of the tea.

Vocal questioning of the national standard for teas (Shizuoka Shinbun 8:08AM JST 6/9/2011):

茶の放射性物質検査を検討した原子力安全委員会の議事録によれば、政府が専門家の意見を十分に踏まえた政策判断をしたとは言い難い。背景に「災害対応に追 われる政府が地方の声を吸い上げることができず、放射性物質と食品の安全をめぐる議論が曖昧になっている」（県幹部）実態がある。

In light of the minutes of the Nuclear Safety Commission's meeting in which the testing of radioactive materials in teas was discussed, the policy decision by the national government was hardly based on the expert opinion. The reality is that "the national government is unable to listen to the local people as it is busy dealing with the crisis, and the discussion about radioactive materials and food safety is not conclusive," according to the Shizuoka prefectrual government sources.

　農薬や添加物などの規制と異なり、茶と放射性物質をめぐる調査研究は政府内で不足している。今回の検査実施は「荒茶は普通食べない」として生茶葉の検査で安全性確保が可能とする農林水産省を、食品検査を所管する厚生労働省が押し切る形で実施が決まった。

The research on radioactivity in teas is lacking in the national government, unlike the regulations on agricultural chemicals and additives. The testing [of teas] this time was done at the express request from the Ministry of Health and Labor who is in charge of testing food items, against the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries who insists the testing of raw tea leaves is enough to ensure safety as "aracha" (bulk tea before the blend) is normally not eaten.

　新茶の生葉は天ぷらなどにして味わうことがある。だが、政府による「荒茶が消費者の口に入る可能性はゼロではない」との政策判断は、何をどれだけ摂取したら健康被害が懸念されるのか、明確にされていない。

Occasionally, people eat raw tea leaves of "shincha" (new tea) in tempura. However, the government's assessment that "the possibility is not zero that "aracha" will be eaten by the consumers" doesn't specifically say how much ingestion will cause a health hazard.

　 福島第１原発事故は想定外の事態であり、国民の健康維持のため食の安全に関する政策が規制強化に傾くのはやむを得ない。ただ、科学的根拠を欠いた政策判断 がまかり通れば社会不安をあおり、仮に製茶が１キロ当たり５００ベクレルを上回る結果となれば、県や市町、茶業界はそのダメージ回復の手だてを講ずること すら難しくなる。
　（政治部・中島忠男）

The Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident was "beyond assumption", and it can't be helped if the the food safety policies lean toward greater regulation to ensure the health of the citizens. However, if a policy decision without any scientific basis is pushed through, it will only increase the social anxiety and fear. If "seicha" (final product) is tested for more than 500 becquerels/kilogram [cesium], it will be very difficult for the prefecture, local municipalities and the tea industry in Shizuoka to recover from the damage. (By Tadao Nakajima, Political Desk)

Then the tea that exceeded the 500 becquerels/kg was found.

About the tea that exceeded the national standard (Shizuoka Shinbun 8:09PM JST 6/9/2011):

県は９日、県内の１１産地１３カ所で生産された一番茶のうち販売前の「製茶」について、放射性セシウムの検査を実施した結果、静岡市藁科地区で「本山茶」 を製造した工場から、国の暫定基準値（１キログラム当たり５００ベクレル）を上回る６７９ベクレルを検出したと発表した。

The Shizuoka prefectural government announced on June 9 that it had conducted the test for radioactive cesium in "seicha" (final product) of "ichiban-cha" (first-pick new tea) produced in 13 locations in 11 tea growing regions in Shizuoka, and found 679 becquerels/kg of cesium in "Hon-yama cha" in the Warashina district of Shizuoka City. The national provisional limit is 500 becquerels/kg.

　県産の茶葉から基準値を超す放射性物質が検出されたのは初めて。残り１２カ所は基準値を下回った。

It was the first time that radioactive materials were detected in the tea leaves in Shizuoka in the amount exceeding the provisional limit. At the remaining 12 locations, the numbers did not exceed the limit.

　県は「健康に影響が出るレベルではない」と説明。同地区にある約１００カ所の製茶工場に出荷自粛を求め、問屋などには商品が流通しないよう要請する。

The Shizuoka government says "It is not the level that will affect health." The government will request 100 tea processing plants in the district not to ship the tea on a voluntary basis, and also request the wholesalers not to distribute.

As Nikkei Shinbun reports, this "Hon-yama cha" exceeding the provisional limit was only discovered because a food grocer located outside Shizuoka Prefecture tested the tea on its own and alerted the Shizuoka government.

I am really losing faith in the Japanese growers.

Tweet

#Radioactive Tea: Shizuoka Governor Now Says He'll Order Test for Bulk Tea (What About the Ones Already Sold?)

The Oxford PhD (in history) governor of Shizuoka, Heita Kawakatsu (pictured), changed his tunes and now says his prefecture will follow the order by the national government and test the bulk tea ("aracha") for radioactive materials.

Why? Nobody knows. Shizuoka's "shincha" (new tea) has already been sold and shipped, both in bulk form and in the final, blended form. "Shincha" commands a huge premium over "nibancha" (second tea).

But the tea growers in Shizuoka are furious at the governor's flip-flop, as Shizuoka Shinbun reports (6/3/2011; original in Japanese, rough English summary):

Tea growers and wholesalers in Shizuoka expressed anger and confusion over the government's decision to apply the provisional limit for raw tea leaves [500 becquerels/kg] to "aracha" (bulk tea).
　
Shizuoka Prefecture had insisted the tea was "safe". Governor Heita Kawakatsu said on June 2, prior to the national government announcement, that half-hearted measures [like testing the bulk tea for radiation] would only amplify the fear.

Shizuoka JA [agricultural co-op] accepted the decision, but the growers are not convinced. They wonder whether applying the same standard for raw leaves to the bulk tea is appropriate. They also wonder if they can continue to produce tea next year. A tea wholesaler in Shizuoka City is furious, saying "We have already shipped "shincha" (new tea) all over Japan. If they were going to do it, they should have done it much sooner." He continued, "There will be returns. Will the wholesalers like us be compensated?" The president of Shizuoka Tea Market that trades "aracha" (bulk tea) asks, "What about "aracha" that the wholesalers have as inventory or which is currently in the market?"

Sorry, growers. When the radioactive materials were detected in nearby Kanagawa, you should have erred on the side of caution and stopped processing raw tea leaves, which then turned out to be radioactive. Sorry wholesalers. You should have stopped shipment, no matter how much you wanted to believe the governor and his tea-gulping performance.

Instead, Shizuoka growers, wholesalers, JA, and the prefectural government did a "new tea" festival and shipped its new tea (in bulk tea form and final blend) all over Japan. As I posted, they shipped to the US, too.

Now the growers may have to decon their equipment and the wholesalers their warehouse...

Tweet

"Shizuoka Shincha (New Tea) Has Arrived!"

(UPDATE) A customer representative at the tea merchant answered my email and said "It was picked and processed mid April to early May." So that was before they tested for radioactive iodine and cesium.

-----------------------------

That was a cheerful e-mail message this morning from a Japanese tea merchant that I had bought from in the past.

In light of what has transpired in Shizuoka - radioactive cesium detected in raw tea leaves and the finished, blended tea, governor refuses to test the bulk tea (aracha), and promise by the prefecture's tea merchants to aggressively market Shizuoka tea in cooperation with the prefectural government - I'll pass.

For those interested in tasting the fresh brew of Shizuoka tea, 3-oz loose leaf tea in a canister can be had for $40. Here's the link:

http://www.itoen.com/loose-leaf-tea/shizuoka-superior-shincha-tin.html

Tweet

Shizuoka Governor: "We Won't Test Our Bulk Tea for Radiation, But Our Tea Is Safe, Trust Us"

I'm losing faith in the goodness and honesty of the agricultural growers in Japan, when they are organized into an association with political clout, like JA.

Shizuoka Prefecture produces over 60 percent of all green teas (final blend) produced in Japan. Right now, it's the season for new teas ("shincha"). Some big money at stake, but recently the high level of radioactive materials was detected from tea leaves grown in Kanagawa Prefecture (east of Shizuoka) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare wants 14 tea-growing prefectures including Shizuoka to test their bulk teas before they are further roasted and blended ("aracha").

Shizuoka has said no. The governor of Shizuoka Heita Kawakatsu, an Oxford PhD elite who was all for Hamaoka Nuke Plant restarting its Reactor 3 back in March after the Fukushima accident, is dead set against testing the bulk teas grown and processed in Shizuoka, saying "It will just confuse the consumer if the radiation is detected." His government tested the raw tea leaves and the final blend, found them below the provisional safety limits (500 becquerels per kilogram for raw leaves, 200 becquerels per kilogram for final blend), so he declares Shizuoka teas to be safe.

Then he hosts the "new tea" promotional event in Shizuoka, and declares "Shizuoka teas are so safe that I could drink it in gulps!" So, according to this Oxford PhD, a good-tasting tea is a safe tea. We've heard the similar remark from the governor of Fukushima and Fukushima JA (agricultural co-op) that Fukushima's vegetables taste so good that they are safe.

Even if the raw tea leaves have low radioactive materials, when they are roasted into "aracha" the radiation level will go up. But then, when "aracha" is further roasted and blended with other "aracha" from other regions into the final products, the radiation level may go down.

For the governor of Shizuoka, the beginning and the end are important. He clearly doesn't care or doesn't want to know what the middle may contain.

(J-CAST News on May 20 says Kanagawa, Saitama, Tochigi joined Shizuoka in refusing the testing of "aracha".)

Here's how Yomiuri Shinbun (3:28PM JST 5/19/2011) portrays the event performance by Governor Kawakatsu:

　静岡県が緊急実施した生茶葉と飲用茶の放射能調査で、県内全１８地点で国の暫定規制値を下回ったことを受け、川勝平太知事は１８日、県庁で生産者らと県産新茶を飲んで「安全宣言」を出した。

Heita Kawakatsu, governor of Shizuoka Prefecture issued the "Safety Declaration" on green teas grown in Shizuoka on May 18. Shizuoka prefectural government tested raw tea leaves and blended teas for consumers in 18 locations in Shizuoka for radioactive materials, and the result showed the radiation level was lower than the provisional safety limit set by the national government [500 becquerels per kilogram, raw leaves; 200 becquerels per kilogram, final blend]. At the prefectural government hall, the governor drank a cup of new tea with the growers and declared it safe.

　一方、厚生労働省が求めている「荒茶」の放射能調査については、「消費者を混乱させる」として、実施しない方針を明らかにした。

As to the testing of the "aracha" that the Ministry of Health and Welfare is requesting, the governor said his government has no plan to test, because "it will confuse the consumer."

　川勝知事はこの日、県内１４産地の茶娘らが新茶を振る舞う県のイベントで、「本県の誇る新茶をみんなで味わって、新緑の季節を祝おう。おいしいお 茶を、広く日本の皆さんに味わっていただきたい」と安全性をアピール。ＪＡ静岡経済連の田中鉄男会長は「検査で県産茶は安全だと確認された。静岡のお茶を 全国の皆さんに安心して飲んで頂きたい」と話した。

Governor Kawakatsu spoke in the event on May 18 with people from 14 tea-growing locations in Shizuoka and appealed the safety of Shizuoka tea. "Let's celebrate the seasons of new green, by drinking our new green teas that we're so proud of. We want people all over Japan to enjoy our delicious tea." Tetsuo Tanaka, chairman of the JA Shizuoka branch said "Now it's confirmed by the government testing that Shizuoka teas are safe. We want everyone in Japan to drink Shizuoka teas without safety concerns."

　厚労省は生茶葉を蒸して乾燥させた「荒茶」についても、静岡県を含む１４都県に放射能調査を実施するよう要請しているが、岩瀬洋一郎副知事が１７日に厚労省と農林水産省を訪れ、調査の実施を巡って両省に見解の相違があることを確認したという。

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is requesting 14 Prefectures including Shizuoka to test for radioactive materials in "aracha", which is made by steaming the raw tea leaves and then roasting them. Vice governor Yoichiro Iwase visited the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on May 17, and confirmed that there were differences between the Ministries as to how the test should be carried out. [The Ministry of Health and Welfare wants a stricter test.]

　これを受け、川勝知事は「消費者を混乱させることをすると、余計に政府に対する不信も高まりかねない」と調査しない方針を示し、「消費者に渡る飲用茶と生茶葉について、全県で調査が終わっているので、これで十分だと思っている」と語った。

Based on that confirmation, Governor Kawakatsu decided not to test because "if we do something that confuses the consumer, that may deepen people's mistrust in the government." He said, "We have tested the tea that will be sold to the consumer and the raw tea leaves, and that's enough."

　知事の発言に対し、県茶商工業協同組合の斎藤松太郎理事長は「この言葉を待っていた。全国のお茶の７０％を取り扱っている本県の茶商として、行政と一体になって新茶を売り込んでいきたい」と話していた。

Matsutaro Saito, chairman of the Tea Commerce & Industry's Association of Shizuoka Prefecture said "That's the word we're waiting for. As the tea merchant of Shizuoka we handle 70% of all teas in Japan. We are going to sell our new teas in close cooperation with the prefectural government."

The Tea Commerce & Industry's Association's website has the test result. Raw leaves had radioactive cesium of between 44.23 becquerels/kg to 138.77 becquerels/kg (Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City). The final blend had radioactive cesium of between 1.93 becquerels/kg to 10.91 becquerels/kg (Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City). No radioactive iodine was detected.

Some responses to the governor's safety declaration, from a Japanese message board (original messages in Japanese):

Drink away, governor.

In Japan, safety has become a religion.

If you say it's safe, test "aracha".

If it's safe, he wouldn't need such stupid performance.

The more we're told something is safe, the more fearful we become. Just look at what has happened at Fukushima I Nuke Plant.

Don't gulp it down. Eat all leaves, too.

No one's stopping you, governor.

What is this silly trend of "safety declaration"? Isn't there anyone who says "We won't sell, because it may be harmful to the health. We will get the compensation money from TEPCO, or we'll sue the company if they refuse."

The tea plantation in Shizuoka that I've been buying from has declared their tea is safe by measuring radioactive iodine only. I guess I won't be buying from them.

Who said the radiation stops at the Hakone Mountains and will never reach Shizuoka?

Tweet