Japanese MP Takes Dare to Drink Fukushima Water

Under pressure from journalists to prove that decontaminated water from the Fukushima area is safe, Japanese lawmaker Yasuhiro Sonoda downed a glass of water taken from puddles underneath the reactors themselves during a news conference today, his hands visibly shaking as he did so, the BBC reports. But he did caution the gathered journalists that “just drinking [the water] doesn’t mean safety has been confirmed. Presenting data to the public is the best way.”

Sonoda downed the water in response to a challenge last month from freelance journalist Yu Terasawa, the Guardian explains. “I don't want it to be seen as some kind of performance, but if that's the best way to prove that the water is safe then I would gladly drink it right here, in front of you, any time,” he replied at the time. (More Fukushima Daiichi stories.)