On 18 March 2011, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano met Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and other senior officials in Tokyo to discuss the current nuclear safety emergency in Japan and the need for increased information disclosure to ensure an effective international response.
During his series of meetings, Director General Amano also discussed international assistance and cooperation with Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto, as well as Mr. Banri Kaieda, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, assuring both officials that the IAEA and the international community were "standing by Japan" in this difficult period.
Referring to the situation as a "very serious accident", Director General Amano stressed in his meeting with senior executives of Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the stricken nuclear power plant at Fukushima Daiichi, that the consequences of the accident should be addressed in close coordination and collaboration with the international community.
A four-person team of IAEA radiation monitoring experts travelled to Japan with Director General Amano. The IAEA team measured radiation levels in Tokyo and in outlying prefectures. Their measurements provide a snapshot of the current situation.
On Saturday, 19 March 2011, Director General Amano returns to Vienna and will be briefing the IAEA Board of Directors on his deliberations in Japan when the Board meets for a special session on Monday, 21 March 2011.