At a press conference held on December 16, 2011, Japan Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda made the following announcement. 

"Today the situation relating to the accident at the nuclear power station reached a significant milestone and I would like to provide a report to the people of Japan in my opening statement." 

"After implementing a meticulous inspection operation by experts, it has been confirmed technologically that coolant water is now circulating stably and that the temperature at the base of the reactors and inside the containment vessel is now secured below 100 degrees Celsius, which means that even if trouble were to reoccur, radiation dose beyond the grounds of the power stations can be maintained at sufficiently low levels." 

"The members of the meeting [of the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters] confirmed the judgment that the nuclear reactors had thus reached a state of cold shutdown and that this element of the power station accident had thus been brought to a conclusion. I would therefore like to announce the conclusion of Step 2 of the roadmap towards the conclusion of the nuclear power station accident." 

"Now that the status of the reactors has been stabilized, I believe that one of the major causes for concern has been eliminated." 

On December 21, the first "Government and TEPCO's*Mid-to-Long Term Countermeasure Meeting"was held. At the meeting, the "Mid-and-long-Term Roadmap towards the Decommissioning of Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Units 1-4, TEPCO"as well as the implementation and management system for the roadmap were decided. *TEPCO: Tokyo Electric Power Company (Quoter’s note) 

This roadmap divides the term of decommissioning (within 30to 40 years) into three phases and will detail the main onsite work and R&D schedule to be implemented as effectively as possible hereafter. 

Following the announcement of PM Noda, The International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) made a statement on December 16. 

"The IAEA welcomes the announcement by the Government of Japan that the reactors at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station have achieved a 'cold shutdown condition' and are in a stable state, and that the release of radioactive materials is under control." 

Tokyo suffered very little direct damage from the Great East Japan Earthquake. It's business as usual here in Tokyo. There are no problems with the water, air, food, public transport and other urban functions, and public safety here remains as high as it has ever been. Feel safe about visiting Tokyo and Japan. We look forward to welcoming you.

Links:

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Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet:
- Press Conference by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda
- Road to Recovery (Comprehensive Information Materials) 

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry:
- Status of Nuclear Power Stations 

IAEA:
- Cold Shutdown Conditions Declared at Fukushima