Treatment of Fukushima Daiichi's huge inventories of radioactive water is being provided by a range of private companies in an operation of unprecendented scale, which is increasing still further. Over 250,000 cubic metres of water have been processed so far, reducing original radioactivity by 88%.
Restrictions in sizeable parts of Fukushima's evacuation area have been relaxed, enabling some residents to visit at will and work towards a permanent return. Two towns have opened, and a third will follow in two weeks' time.
The fuel pond of Fukushima Daiichi 4 will be inspected by an underwater robot this month as an early step in the program of work to remove the used nuclear fuel from the building._76x48.jpg "Visual inspection of the main steam isolation valve at Fukushima_Daiichi unit 4 (Tepco) 76x48")
A year after suffering the tsunami inundation that led to an unprecedented triple meltdown, stabilisation and restoration work continues across the entire Fukushima Daiichi power plant site. 
The revival of the Japanese nuclear sector will depend on the efforts of workers at Fukushima Daiichi, French industry and energy minister Eric Besson said during a visit to the site.
Japan's nuclear safety regulator has endorsed the results of stress tests at two idled nuclear power reactors, clearing the way for their possible restart. Meanwhile, a sharp rise in the temperature recorded in unit 2 of the Fukushima Daiichi plant could be the result of a faulty thermometer._64x48.jpg "Fukushima Daiichi 2 temperatures February 2012 (Tepco) 64x48")
Cooling of Fukushima Daiichi unit 2 has been upset by a change in injection rates, leading to a rise in temperature that Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) is working to gradually correct.
Pictures from a remote examination of Fukushima Daiichi 2 have yet to bring new information on the state of the ruined reactor core..jpg "Fukushima debris removal (Tepco)"){kind=small}
A roadmap setting out the mid- to long-term activities needed for the decommissioning of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi reactors has been released. The plan envisages decommissioning activities being completed within 30 to 40 years.
Cold shutdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has now been officially recognised, bringing to a close the 'accident' phase of events at the plant triggered by the 11 March tsunami.