In recent developments, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has found itself grappling with an onslaught of over 30,000 nuisance phone calls. These persistent calls have prompted the government to employ a unique solution: an automated voice message that commences with the phrase, “Do you know?”
This automated voice message, implemented by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, conveys crucial information regarding the release of ALPS-treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. It emphasizes that this release adheres to international standards and practices, maintains a lower annual tritium disposal volume compared to neighboring nations, and places paramount importance on safety. Furthermore, it points out that certain Chinese nuclear power plants discharge tritium at levels nearly ten times that of Fukushima Daiichi.
This automated voice message is triggered when incoming calls originate from China, identified by the country code “86,” and the caller communicates in Chinese. It begins with the question, “Do you know?” and proceeds to provide the aforementioned details.
The government’s response to this issue has been swift. During a one-and-a-half-hour period starting at 4:45 PM, the automated voice message effectively handled 198 calls. By August 31st, a staggering 32,800 similar nuisance calls had been reported to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. These calls are regarded as harassment related to the treated water release.
In response to this escalating problem, NTT East Japan has taken a proactive stance. On the 29th, they established a telephone consultation hotline, known as the “Nuisance Call Countermeasures Center” (reachable at 0120-325-263), open on both weekdays and weekends from 9 AM to 5 PM. Additionally, NTT East Japan has started disseminating information on their website regarding methods to combat these nuisance calls suspected to originate from foreign sources.
The magnitude of the issue is evident in the increasing number of consultations reported to police agencies across 31 prefectures, totaling 225 as of noon on the 28th. Fukushima Prefecture has recorded the highest number of consultations, involving various entities such as local governments, schools, restaurants, and private businesses. However, it’s worth noting that the official consultation count may not fully capture the extent of the problem, as even cases of hundreds of nuisance calls might be recorded as just one consultation.
In response to this surge in nuisance calls, the National Police Agency has called for measures to address the situation. While blocking all incoming calls from specific countries is not possible for landline phones, the agency has suggested subscribing to the “Number Display” service. This allows individuals to identify incoming international calls with the country code “86” and make informed decisions about whether to answer them.
This multifaceted issue surrounding nuisance calls related to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant’s treated water release continues to pose challenges, prompting both government and telecommunications providers to seek innovative solutions and support for affected individuals and organizations.