Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is reportedly planning to convene a meeting of Cabinet ministers as early as next week regarding the government's plan to start releasing treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean.

Kishida says he will also visit the plant on Sunday to inspect preparations for the release.

The government has started preparations to begin the water release after the meeting next week.

Multiple sources say Kishida is also calling for a meeting with senior officials of the National Federation of Fisheries Co-Operative Associations and the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations as early as Monday.

Rain and groundwater mixes with water used to cool molten fuel at the plant. The accumulated water is treated to remove most radioactive substances, but still contains tritium.

The Japanese government plans to dilute the treated water to reduce tritium levels to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization's guidelines for drinking water quality before releasing it into the sea.

Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency released a report saying Japan's water release plan is consistent with international safety standards.

Industry minister Nishimura Yasutoshi has continued to explain to local people the government's policy to ensure safety and take thorough steps to prevent reputational damage.

During a meeting of the preparatory committee for a review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons that ended this month, more than 10 countries reportedly indicated their understanding and support for the effort undertaken by Japan and the IAEA about the release.

The government apparently has taken into account the situations at home and abroad in adjusting the release date.

But Japanese fishers continue to oppose the plan.

China has also expressed opposition by calling the water "contaminated." Beijing has indicated it will tighten restrictions on imports of Japanese fishery products.

The Japanese government plans to continue releasing information about the release at home and abroad.