Japan's new Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda yesterday visited Fukushima for the first time since he took office a week ago, paying tribute to hundreds of workers battling to contain the nuclear crisis.

"You hold the key to the solution to the problem, "Noda told some 200 workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was crippled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, adding that "without the rebirth of Fukushima, therewiUnotbearebirthoflanan."