China's decision came in response to the release of treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, while Chinese boats continue to fish off the coast of Japan.

China is Japan's largest seafood market, and the ban has severely damaged Japan's fishing industry.

Emmanuel posted four photos on social media on Friday that he said showed Chinese boats fishing off the coast of Japan after China imposed the ban.

The UN nuclear agency says the release of treated wastewater, if carried out as planned, will have a limited impact on marine life and human health.

Earlier this month, Japan's Foreign Ministry said Tokyo had told the World Trade Organization that Beijing's ban on Japanese seafood after discharging treated radioactive contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant was "totally unacceptable."

In a counter-lawsuit to China's Aug. 31 notification to the WTO about its measures to suspend imports from Japanese waters that began last month, Japan said it would explain its positions to relevant WTO committees and urged China to immediately rescind the measure.