Tokyo opens first swimming beach in 50 years

No thanks.

Why can't you swim in the sea in Japan? is it down to effluent, industrial waste being pumped into the sea? of is it just red sting rays/sharks?

They don't allow swimming because of the water quality, but every season you see hundreds of families on the foreshore collecting clams from the mud to take home and eat. Mind you, this is just down the river from Odaiba, which used to be the world's largest garbage island and is still leaking toxins and heavy metals into Tokyo bay. I think I'll pass on swimming at Kasai park, thanks.

The water quality is OK. it is the micro plastics that are the main problem now. Effluent and Industral waste are treated before release. Tokyo Bay is fished and heavy metals in catches are below minimal standards. So it is safe to swim in the waters around Tokyo.

While coliforms themselves are not normally causes of serious illness, they are easy to culture, and their presence is used to indicate that other pathogenic organisms of fecal origin may be present

The key word being fecal (i.e. poop), not sure I would want to go swimming there.

"The water quality is OK."

I'm not sure about that. The park website seems to say its standard for coliform to determine safe water is 1,000 parts/100ml. However, the WHO standard, as used by Singapore and others for their beaches, is 200 parts to 100ml.

Would be nice if the article gave the link to the site the data is published.

"The Tokyo metropolitan government has installed a protective net off the shore to prevent red stingrays from injuring swimmers"

Will that net also stop sharks?

So if the water is JUST passable for humans then they'll okay it?

No thanks.

At least it's a start. The more public awareness the more the gov will see the need to improve the environment. Every major city on the water has pollution problems. Start by not peeing and pooing in the water when you do take a swim.....Yes?

Technically it isn't the first swimming beach in Tokyo as all of the islands between Tokyo City and Ogasawara are owned by Tokyo. Most of those islands have some swimmable beaches.

Anyways only beaches I touch in Japan are in Kyushu and Okinawa. Sure Honshu has some decent beaches but they get filled up beyond belief in the summer.

Nota quite sure what's more important to local authorities, people or natural fauna...

if theyll let people live back near Fukushima, why let a few toxins stop families swimming in Toyko Bay!!?

Joeintokyo:

We already do. In sea, its fish and whale poo; in constructed swimming pools, its mostly kid pee. Chemicals (other than chlorine) and radioactive material is a different story...

I use to live near Kasai and it always amazed me how parents let kids swim in the waters. I've also seen people im the water im Shin-Urayasu & Toyosu (yes, I can't believe it myself). Considering Tokyo is 20% reclaimed lamd (ie. built on landfill), all the science in the world (nor the govt's usual "safe" propaganda) wouldn't get me in the water...

as used by Singapore and others for their beaches, is 200 parts to 100ml.

Japan seems to relax it's rules with regards to what is allowable based upon need, want, (wait-one) money.

due to deterioration in water quality.

Rain Check-

"A ban on swimming at beaches in the Tokyo metropolitan area was put into effect in the 1960s due to deterioration in water quality."

But don't worry...

"Scientists will also monitor coliform bacteria in the water daily and announce on Kasai Rinkai Park website whether the water is suitable for swimming ."

Ha! So, yeah, just check the website and one day it may be unsafe to swim and then the next day comes and it's a miracle, it's safe to swim! Is that possible? Bacteria levels just spike to dangerous levels then to safe levels daily and there's no residual harm for swimmers?

that beach is soooo dirty, all the rivers from Edo Gawa Ku, Urayasu and Shin Kiba goes to those waters, not to mention the waste from Disneyland and the Hotels around. Disgusting!