Today, December 22, Niigata prefecture assembly is poised to approve the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant—the world’s largest—15 years after the 2011 Fukushima disaster 🌊⚡.
Located about 220 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa complex was one of 54 reactors shut down after the quake and tsunami that crippled Fukushima Daiichi. Since then, Japan has brought 14 of its 33 operable reactors back online as it works to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels 🏭.
Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), which runs the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa site, plans to reactivate one of its seven reactors on January 20, 2026, according to NHK. If approved, that single reactor could boost electricity supply to the Tokyo area by about 2%, the trade ministry estimates ⚙️💡.
To win local support, TEPCO pledged 100 billion yen ($641 million) in investments over the next decade, but many residents remain cautious 🤔. The assembly vote also serves as a test of confidence in Governor Hideyo Hanazumi’s backing of the project.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in office since October, has championed nuclear restarts to enhance energy security and curb rising costs from imported liquefied natural gas and coal, which today account for about 60–70% of Japan’s power mix. Last year, Japan spent 10.7 trillion yen on these fuels 🌏.
Looking ahead, a surge in power-hungry AI data centers is expected to push energy demand higher over the next decade. The government aims to double nuclear’s share of electricity to 20% by 2040, and in July, Kansai Electric Power began surveys for Japan’s first new reactor since Fukushima 📈🤖.
Will this bold move reshape Japan’s energy future? Share your thoughts below! 🌟
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
