Japan Revives Controversial Nuclear Power with Major Plant Restart

Wed Jan 21 2026 16:21:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the largest in the world, reactivates its reactor nearly 15 years post-Fukushima disaster, marking a renewed focus on nuclear energy despite ongoing public concerns.

In a significant move, Japan has restarted a reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, the world's largest, nearly 15 years following the Fukushima disaster which led to a nationwide shutdown of reactors. While the restart symbolizes a pivot towards nuclear energy, public trust remains shaky due to past disasters and ongoing safety concerns. Critics argue this revival is insufficient, and the country faces challenges in balancing energy needs with safety and public opinion as it strives to increase nuclear energy's share in the national grid.

Japan has restarted a reactor at the world's largest nuclear plant nearly 15 years after a disaster at the Fukushima power plant forced the country to shut all its nuclear reactors. Reactor no.6 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant located northwest of Tokyo was restarted on Wednesday. It was delayed by one day because of an alarm malfunction and is expected to begin operating commercially next month.

This is the latest installment in Japan's nuclear power reboot, which still has a long way to go. The seventh reactor is not expected to come back on until 2030, and the remaining five could be decommissioned. That leaves the plant with far less capacity than it once had when all seven reactors were operational: 8.2 gigawatts.

Japan, which had always heavily relied on energy imports, was an early adopter of nuclear power but these ambitions were scuppered in 2011 by what is now remembered as one of the worst nuclear disasters in history.

Triggered by the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan, the meltdown in the reactors at Fukushima Daiichi led to radioactive leakage that traumatized local communities that were evacuated, and many have not returned despite official assurances that it was safe to do so.

Critics say the plant's owner Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) was not prepared and the response from both them and the government was not well-coordinated. An independent government report labeled it a 'man-made disaster' blaming Tepco, although a court later cleared three of their executives of negligence.

The fear and lack of trust fueled public opposition to nuclear power, leading to the suspension of Japan's entire fleet of 54 reactors shortly after the Fukushima disaster. Since 2015, however, Japan has been attempting to revive its nuclear power plants, managing to restart 15 out of its 33 operable reactors, with the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant being the first owned by Tepco to resume operations.

Before 2011, nuclear power accounted for nearly 30% of Japan's electricity, with plans to raise that figure to 50% by 2030, a target now toned down to 20% by 2040.

Nationally, nuclear power currently provides just 8.5% of electricity. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has highlighted the need for nuclear energy to bolster Japan's energy self-sufficiency, especially as demand increases with the growth of data centers and semiconductor manufacturing.

However, the costs associated with nuclear safety compliance have surged, posing challenges for companies attempting to restart their plants. Increasing operational costs may lead to higher energy bills for consumers, a potentially politically sensitive issue.

Many remain skeptical about the future of nuclear energy in Japan. Recent scandals regarding the handling of sensitive information at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant and other facilities have further eroded public trust.

As Japan strives to navigate its energy needs in the aftermath of past nuclear disasters, it faces an uphill battle reconciling safety, public opinion, and the shifting global landscape of nuclear energy.