For the first time since the Fukushima disaster shattered global confidence in atomic energy, Japan is inching toward reactivating the world’s largest nuclear power plant.
Hideyo Hanazumi, governor of the Niigata region, has announced that he supports a partial restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant , a decision that immediately reignited national debate on energy security, corporate accountability, and public safety.
A Conditional Green Light That Could Reshape Japan’s Energy Mix
Governor Hanazumi’s approval is not the final word. The plan still requires clearance from the prefectural assembly and Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority. But his endorsement marks a turning point for Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), the operator whose Fukushima facility suffered catastrophic meltdowns in 2011.
The proposed restart would begin with Reactor No. 6, followed by Reactor No. 7 both critical pieces of Tepco’s long-term reconstruction and financial recovery strategy.
A Region Divided Since the Tsunami That Changed Everything
More than a decade after the devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami triggered the Fukushima crisis, the emotional and political terrain remains fragile.
Niigata residents remain split: a recent prefectural survey shows 50% in favour of restarting the plant and 47% opposed. Notably, nearly 70% express concern about Tepco’s ability to run the plant safely , a reminder of a past that continues to cast a long shadow.
The Legacy of Fukushima Still Shapes Today’s Decisions
When waves overwhelmed Fukushima’s seawall and flooded its reactors, the resulting radiation leak forced 150,000 evacuations, billions in cleanup costs, and a national halt of all nuclear reactors.
In the years since, Japan has slowly allowed 14 reactors to return to service, but none operated by Tepco. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart would therefore represent not only a technical restart, but a symbolic one , a test of whether the company has rebuilt trust after years of scrutiny.
Energy Security and Climate Goals Are Driving the Shift
Behind the restart push lies a strategic calculation: Japan is trying to reduce its heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels while pursuing its net-zero emissions target.
Nuclear power, once politically radioactive, is now being reconsidered as a domestic, low-carbon option especially as global energy markets grow more uncertain.
Governor Hanazumi’s decision signals that portions of Japan’s leadership see a controlled return to nuclear power as essential for long-term energy stability.
What Happens Next?
The prefectural assembly will debate the governor’s decision in December, after which the national nuclear regulator will determine whether the plant meets strengthened post-Fukushima safety standards.
If all approvals align, Tepco could operate a nuclear reactor for the first time since 2011, a watershed moment in Japan’s complicated relationship with nuclear energy.