The decision clears the final political hurdle for resuming operations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa as Japan expands nuclear power to meet rising energy demand despite persistent public opposition.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Japan is preparing to resume operations at the world’s largest nuclear power plant, marking a major step in the country’s gradual return to nuclear energy nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster reshaped its energy policy and public trust.
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station, located about 136 miles northwest of Tokyo, was among 54 reactors taken offline nationwide following the March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, which was triggered by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the massive tsunami that followed. The disaster knocked out power and cooling systems at the Fukushima plant, leading to core meltdowns and a level 7 nuclear accident, the highest rating on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale.
Japan has since restarted nuclear generation at 14 of the 33 reactors that remain operable, as it seeks to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and strengthen energy security. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will be the first nuclear facility restarted by Tokyo Electric Power Co., the same utility that operated the Fukushima plant.
According to The Epoch Times, Operations can now resume after the Niigata prefectural assembly passed a vote of confidence on Dec. 22 in Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who has supported the restart. Following the vote, Hanazumi described the decision as an important step but cautioned against complacency.
“This is a milestone, but this is not the end,” Hanazumi said. “There is no end in terms of ensuring the safety of Niigata residents.”
The assembly session highlighted deep divisions within the local community. While lawmakers ultimately backed the governor, critics accused the decision of ignoring public opposition.
“This is nothing other than a political settlement that does not take into account the will of the Niigata residents,” one assembly member said during the debate.
Outside the assembly building, roughly 300 protesters gathered holding signs reading “No Nukes” and “Support Fukushima.” Among them was 77-year-old Niigata resident Kenichiro Ishiyama, who said the vote left him furious.
“I am truly angry from the bottom of my heart,” Ishiyama said. “If something was to happen at the plant, we would be the ones to suffer the consequences.”
Concerns about safety remain deeply rooted in the Fukushima experience. The 2011 tsunami, which reached nearly 50 feet in height, crippled the Fukushima Daiichi reactors and forced the evacuation of about 160,000 people. While radioactive exposure was limited, the evacuation itself has since been criticized by some experts for causing severe stress-related harm, particularly among elderly residents. Some analyses have concluded that fewer lives might have been lost had residents sheltered in place rather than evacuating.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. has pledged that such a disaster will never be repeated. “We remain firmly committed to never repeating such an accident and ensuring Niigata residents never experience anything similar,” said TEPCO spokesperson Masakatsu Takata, who declined to specify when operations would begin.
Earlier this year, TEPCO committed to investing 100 billion yen, about $641 million, in the surrounding region over the next decade to help secure local support. Following the Dec. 22 vote, the company’s shares rose 2 percent in afternoon trading, outperforming Japan’s Nikkei index.
Public skepticism remains widespread. An October survey found that 60 percent of residents believed conditions for restarting the plant had not been met, and nearly 70 percent expressed concern about TEPCO’s ability to safely operate the facility.
Among those still affected by Fukushima is farmer Ayako Oga, 52, who was forced to flee her home in 2011. She said the risks cannot be dismissed.
“We know firsthand the risk of a nuclear accident and cannot dismiss it,” Oga said, adding that she continues to experience stress-related symptoms linked to the disaster.
Despite backing the restart, Hanazumi has said he hopes Japan will eventually reduce its reliance on nuclear power. “I want to see an era where we don’t have to rely on energy sources that cause anxiety,” he said last month.
The Dec. 22 vote represented the final political hurdle before TEPCO restarts the first reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, which alone could increase electricity supply to the Tokyo region by about 2 percent, according to estimates by Japan’s trade ministry.
The restart comes as Japan faces rising energy demand, even as its population declines. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has voiced strong support for nuclear restarts to counter the high cost of imported fossil fuels, which currently account for roughly 60 to 70 percent of Japan’s electricity generation. Last year, Japan spent 10.7 trillion yen, or about $68 billion, on imported liquefied natural gas and coal, representing roughly one-tenth of total import costs.
Demand is expected to grow further as artificial intelligence data centers and advanced computing infrastructure expand. Japan has set a target of doubling nuclear power’s share of the electricity mix to 20 percent by 2040.
With a total capacity of 8.2 gigawatts, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa alone can supply electricity to several million households. Meanwhile, Japan’s largest nuclear operator, Kansai Electric Power, said in July it plans to begin surveys for a new reactor in western Japan, which would be the country’s first new nuclear plant since the Fukushima disaster.
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