Japan Moves Forward with Nuclear Revival as World's Largest Plant Prepares to Restart

In a pivotal moment for Japan's energy future, the country has cleared the final hurdle to restart the world's largest nuclear power plant, marking a significant step in its return to nuclear energy nearly 15 years after the Fukushima catastrophe.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility, situated 220 kilometres northwest of Tokyo, represents both promise and peril for a nation grappling with energy security while haunted by nuclear trauma. The Niigata prefecture assembly's vote of confidence in Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who endorsed the restart last month, effectively greenlit the plant's return to operation.

A Community Divided

The decision exposes deep fractures within Japanese society over nuclear energy. While the restart promises new employment opportunities and potentially lower electricity costs, it has sparked fierce opposition from residents who lived through the 2011 disaster.

"This is nothing other than a political settlement that does not take into account the will of Niigata residents," declared an assembly member opposing the restart, capturing the sentiment of many locals.

Outside the assembly, approximately 300 protesters braved the cold, their banners declaring 'No Nukes' and 'We oppose the restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa'. Among them stood 77-year-old Kenichiro Ishiyama, whose words reflected the community's anguish: "I am truly angry from the bottom of my heart. If something was to happen at the plant, we would be the ones to suffer the consequences."

Corporate Accountability and Public Trust

The restart carries particular significance as Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will be the first plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) since the utility's catastrophic management of the Fukushima disaster. This reality weighs heavily on public consciousness, with recent surveys revealing that 60% of Niigata residents believe conditions for restart have not been met, while nearly 70% harbour concerns about TEPCO's involvement.

TEPCO has attempted to rebuild trust through a substantial financial commitment, pledging 100 billion yen (€641 million) to the prefecture over the next decade. Yet for many, money cannot erase memories of displacement and trauma.

Voices of the Displaced

Among the protesters stands Ayako Oga, a 52-year-old farmer who fled the Fukushima exclusion zone in 2011 alongside 160,000 other evacuees. Now settled in Niigata, she continues to battle post-traumatic stress while advocating against nuclear power.

"We know firsthand the risk of a nuclear accident and cannot dismiss it," Oga explained, her presence serving as a living reminder of nuclear energy's human cost. "As a victim of the Fukushima nuclear accident, I wish that no one, whether in Japan or anywhere in the world, ever again suffers the damage of a nuclear accident."

Energy Security Versus Public Safety

The restart reflects Japan's complex energy calculations. With fossil fuel imports costing the nation 10.7 trillion yen (€68 billion) annually and accounting for 60-70% of electricity generation, the government views nuclear power as essential for energy independence and climate commitments.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has championed nuclear restarts to strengthen energy security, setting an ambitious target of doubling nuclear power's share in Japan's electricity mix to 20% by 2040. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart, with its 8.2 GW total capacity, represents a crucial step towards this goal.

"This is a milestone, but this is not the end," Governor Hanazumi acknowledged after the vote. "There is no end in terms of ensuring the safety of Niigata residents." Paradoxically, even he hopes Japan will eventually reduce its nuclear reliance, stating: "I want to see an era where we don't have to rely on energy sources that cause anxiety."

The Path Forward

TEPCO is reportedly considering reactivating the first reactor on 20 January, with the facility's first 1.36 GW unit expected online next year and another by 2030. The company's shares rose 2% following the vote, reflecting investor confidence in Japan's nuclear revival.

Yet as Japan moves forward with its nuclear renaissance, the voices of opposition serve as a crucial reminder that energy policy cannot be divorced from human experience. The protests outside Niigata's assembly, where evacuees chanted 'Never forget Fukushima's lessons!', embody the tension between pragmatic energy needs and the moral imperative to protect communities from harm.

As Japan charts its energy future, the restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will serve as a critical test of whether the nation can balance its energy security needs with the hard-won lessons of Fukushima and the legitimate concerns of its citizens.