Cute cartoon character fails to sell Fukushima water plan

Within just a day, the character called Tritium was scrapped and an apology issued. - SIMONAHAC/TWITTER

TOKYO (Bloomberg): Amid criticism at home and abroad over plans to release treated water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, Japan’s officials turned to a familiar playbook: use a cute character to explain the safety of the move.

Within just a day, the big-nosed, tadpole-like character called Tritium -- which looks a bit like a Pokemon and is named after the radioactive element that the government plans to dilute and release into the ocean -- was scrapped and an apology issued.