Tokyo ? The Niigata prefectural government and the Foreign Ministry have expressed concern over what they claim is inaccurate reporting by foreign media of the radioactive leaks at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, fearing it could tarnish the nation’s image.

The governor has sent a message to foreign travel agencies in an effort to promote the safety of his prefecture. Meanwhile, the ministry has contacted foreign media through its embassies, asking reporters to provide accurate information.

Correspondents from more than 20 foreign news organizations in Japan have conducted interviews with Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the Kashiwa-zaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant.

However, TEPCO has said that employees had found a July 19 article by an Italian news agency on its Web site that said the water leaked was 30 times more radioactive than it actually was.