Japan has taken a decisive step toward restarting the world’s largest nuclear power plant, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s energy strategy nearly 15 years after the catastrophic Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. The move comes as authorities in Niigata Prefecture prepared to formally approve the resumption of operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, a facility that had remained dormant since the earthquake and tsunami triggered one of the worst nuclear accidents in history.
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, situated about 220 kilometres northwest of Tokyo, is operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), the same utility that ran the troubled Fukushima Daiichi reactors. The facility has a total generating capacity of approximately 8.2 gigawatts, making it the largest nuclear power station in the world. It was among the 54 reactors that were taken offline in the wake of the 2011 disaster, which forced mass evacuations and profoundly reshaped Japan’s energy policies.
For more than a decade, Japan’s government and energy sector have grappled with how to balance energy security, economic costs and public apprehension over nuclear power. While some reactors across the country have been restarted under stringent safety protocols, many remain closed due to local resistance and regulatory hurdles. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa’s planned restart represents both a symbolic and practical shift in the nation’s approach to nuclear energy.
The decision by the Niigata Prefectural Assembly to back the restart followed intense debate and a vote of confidence in Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, a supporter of the plant’s reopening. The assembly’s endorsement is widely seen as the final administrative requirement before TEPCO can begin reactivating the plant’s reactors. Public broadcaster NHKreported that the company is considering bringing the first of the seven reactors back online as early as January 20, 2026, with a gradual ramp-up in output preceding full commercial operations.
Despite official backing, the plan has drawn notable opposition from residents and anti-nuclear activists in Niigata. Around 300 protesters, many of them older citizens, gathered outside the prefectural government offices, holding signs decrying the restart and expressing solidarity with Fukushima survivors. The demonstrations underscored lingering anxiety about nuclear energy’s safety, even as authorities stress that enhanced regulatory standards and safety measures have been instituted since 2011.
TEPCO has sought to address these concerns and foster local support by pledging large-scale investments in the region. The company proposed injecting 100 billion yen (about $640 million) into Niigata over the next decade to bolster local infrastructure and economic development. Nonetheless, surveys conducted in the prefecture indicate that a majority of residents remain sceptical about the restart, with many questioning whether the conditions truly meet safety expectations.
For the Japanese government, the restart aligns with broader strategies to enhance energy independence and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. Japan spent more than 10 trillion yen (approximately $68 billion) last year on importing liquefied natural gas and coal, a significant portion of its total import bill. Authorities have highlighted that reintegrating nuclear power into the country’s energy mix could help stabilise electricity supplies, curb high fuel costs and contribute to climate goals by providing a low-carbon energy source.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who assumed office earlier this year, has reaffirmed the government’s support for nuclear restarts as part of a diversified and resilient energy policy. Experts suggest that public acceptance of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa project would be a critical milestone in restoring confidence in nuclear power and advancing Japan’s long-term energy objectives, including ambitions to double the share of nuclear energy in the electricity mix by 2040.
As the country moves closer to reactivating the largest nuclear plant in the world, the debate over nuclear energy’s role in Japan’s future continues to evoke deep-seated sentiments shaped by the tragedy of Fukushima, underscoring the enduring complexities of balancing energy needs with public trust and safety concerns.
