Japanese civic groups rallied in front of the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company and in Fukushima on Thursday, urging the Japanese government and TEPCO to halt the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water. At noon Thursday, video provided by TEPCO showed a staff member turning on a seawater pump at around 1 pm local time (0400 GMT), marking the beginning of the controversial ocean discharge.

Tokyo protesters condemned Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration for disregarding the written commitment to "no disposal of contaminated water without understanding of the parties involved" with the fishing industry and ignoring the voices of Fukushima residents, as well as the voices of citizens from neighboring countries.

"This forceful and autocratic approach leaves one speechless," said a representative of KOREUMI, a Japanese citizens' conference dedicated to preventing further pollution of the ocean. "They proceeded without pausing for discussion, determined to discharge at all costs, which is markedly undemocratic."

Protesters said letting nuclear-contaminated water flow into the ocean is a selfish and weak act that should never be allowed. They believe that this issue has already become an international problem.

In Fukushima Prefecture, a group of residents and lawyers opposing the discharge held a news conference in Iwaki on Wednesday. There were also local protests on Thursday.

They announced the intention of local residents and fishermen to file a lawsuit at Fukushima District Court on Sept 8, seeking the cancellation of the Nuclear Regulation Authority's approval of the ocean discharge plan and demanding Tokyo Electric Power Company cease the release.