- Japan's largest nuclear plant clears final political hurdle for restart.
- Local assembly approves despite significant resident opposition and protests.
- The plant is operated by TEPCO, the utility responsible for Fukushima.
- Restart is driven by economic pressures and goals for energy security.
- The move highlights a deep national divide over nuclear power's future.
Nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster reshaped Japan’s energy landscape and shattered public trust, the country is poised to restart the world's largest nuclear power station. On December 22, the regional assembly in Niigata prefecture delivered a crucial vote of confidence in Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, effectively removing the final political barrier for the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. This pivotal decision allows plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the same utility that ran Fukushima, to immediately begin the process of bringing the long-dormant facility back online, marking a profound shift in national policy driven by economic and energy security demands.
The move is a watershed moment in Japan's fraught return to nuclear energy. Following the 2011 catastrophe, all 54 of the nation's reactors were gradually taken offline. Japan has since restarted 14 of the 33 reactors deemed operable, but Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the first to resume under TEPCO's management. The facility, located about 136 miles northwest of Tokyo, boasts a total capacity of 8.2 gigawatts, enough to power several million homes. Its revival is central to government plans to reduce a costly dependence on imported fossil fuels.
A community divided
The assembly vote laid bare a deep and emotional rift within the local community. While lawmakers provided the necessary political backing, the session was charged with opposition. "This is nothing other than a political settlement that does not take into account the will of the Niigata residents," one assembly member declared during the proceedings. Outside, around 300 protesters gathered in the cold, holding signs that read "No Nukes" and "Support Fukushima."
Their fears are rooted in recent history and personal trauma. Many residents remain deeply wary of TEPCO's competence and the fundamental safety of nuclear power. A prefecture survey in October found 60% of residents did not believe conditions for a restart had been met, with nearly 70% specifically worried about TEPCO operating the plant. For those who lived through the Fukushima crisis, the anxiety is visceral.
"I am truly angry from the bottom of my heart," said 77-year-old protester Kenichiro Ishiyama after the vote. "If something was to happen at the plant, we would be the ones to suffer the consequences." His sentiment is echoed by evacuees like Ayako Oga, 52, who fled the Fukushima area in 2011. "We know firsthand the risk of a nuclear accident and cannot dismiss it," Oga told Reuters, adding that she still struggles with post-traumatic stress-like symptoms.
The push for energy security
Despite this palpable opposition, powerful economic forces are driving Japan's nuclear renaissance. The government, now under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is aggressively promoting restarts to strengthen energy security. Imported fossil fuels currently account for 60 to 70 percent of Japan's electricity generation, costing the nation 10.7 trillion yen ($68 billion) last year alone. Nuclear power offers a path to greater self-sufficiency and stability.
Furthermore, Japan anticipates rising energy demand in the coming decade, fueled in part by the massive power requirements of artificial intelligence data centers. To meet these needs and its climate commitments, Japan aims to double nuclear power's share of its electricity mix to 20% by 2040. The restart of just one reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa could boost the electricity supply to the Tokyo area by an estimated 2%, a significant increment.
Safety pledges and economic promises
In response to public fears, TEPCO has made extensive safety pledges and economic overtures. The company stated it has learned the harsh lessons of Fukushima. "We remain firmly committed to never repeating such an accident and ensuring Niigata residents never experience anything similar," said TEPCO spokesperson Masakatsu Takata. The utility has also pledged to invest 100 billion yen into the Niigata prefecture over the next decade.
Governor Hanazumi, while backing the restart, acknowledged the enduring anxiety. "This is a milestone, but this is not the end," he said after the assembly vote. "There is no end in terms of ensuring the safety of Niigata residents." He has expressed a longer-term hope for an era where Japan does not have to rely on energy sources that cause public fear.
The journey to this point has been long, involving rigorous safety upgrades and regulatory inspections by Japan's post-Fukushima Nuclear Regulation Authority. TEPCO is reportedly considering reactivating the first reactor as soon as January 20. For Ayako Oga and thousands of other Fukushima evacuees watching from Niigata, that date marks not progress, but the return of a threat they know too intimately. "As a victim of the Fukushima nuclear accident," she said, "I wish that no one, whether in Japan or anywhere in the world, ever again suffers the damage of a nuclear accident."
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