By Dana S. Mar
The North American Post
With the relocation of Tsukiji fish market postponed from its initially planned move in November, The Japan Times conducted an interview with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike regarding current progress on Monday. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, extremely high levels of toxins were found in groundwater samplings last week. Koike has stated that the relocation was postponed to occur by next winter or spring with the issue being discussed in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election this summer. The relocation may be further pushed back due to the groundwater contamination.
Previous samplings showed much lower concentrations of toxins from the current cancer-causing benzene found at 79 times the allowed maximum concentration. Koike has expressed doubt at the previous tests’ credibility. Additionally, Koike’s predecessors had claimed the decontamination work in the area resolved.
