Japan PM urges removal of 'import restrictions' placed over Fukushima water release

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urges the "early removal of import restrictions" placed on his country as it prepares to release cooling water from the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.

China has banned food shipments from several Japanese prefectures in response to the upcoming release, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday and has drawn criticism from Japan's domestic fishing industry, foreign governments and environmental groups.