Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent speech declaring that radioactive contaminants from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant are under control, reassuring the International Olympic Committee, has backfired at home.
According to news.com.au, just hours before Tokyo was chosen September 7 to host the 2020 Olympics, Abe gave this reassurance to the IOC.
The Japanese media and opposition lawmakers have suggested that Abe's comments were overkill, the report said.
They argued that the credibility of the prime minister's message to overseas is shaking, the report added.
Hikariko Ono of the prime minister's office defended Abe's pledge, citing offshore monitoring results showing undetectable radioactivity, the report further said.
The government has stepped up efforts to contain the leaks, according to the report.
