Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has visited a wholesale market in Tokyo and vowed to draw up support measures for those affected by China's suspension of Japanese seafood imports.

China strongly opposes Japan's release of treated and diluted water from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea. Beijing has halted all imports of Japanese marine products.

China has been the largest importer of Japanese seafood. Last year, Japan exported marine products worth 87.1 billion yen, or about 595 million dollars.

Kishida visited the Toyosu market on Thursday morning and spoke with middle traders who export seafood.
The traders said businesses that rely on exports have been hit hard, but there has been no noticeable impact on domestic transactions.

They asked the prime minister to take steps to expand sales to Europe and the United States, and promote domestic consumption.

Kishida later told reporters at the prime minister's office that he has heard various opinions and promised measures to meet the businesses' needs.

He added the government will strongly urge the lifting of import controls that lack a scientific basis.