Japan’s Nuclear Comeback: Safety vs. AI Energy

Japan fires up the world’s largest nuclear plant—run by the same company behind Fukushima’s meltdown—despite furious local protests in a quake-prone zone.

Story Snapshot

TEPCO restarted Reactor No. 6 at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa on January 21, 2026, first since the 2011 Fukushima disaster that killed nearly 18,000.
The plant boasts 8.2 gigawatts of capacity, serving Tokyo but sparking 40,000-signature petitions from Niigata residents fearing seismic risks.
Government pushes revival for carbon neutrality and AI energy needs, overriding 60% local opposition amid recent safety scandals.
Post-Fukushima upgrades installed, yet same boiling-water tech and operator as the meltdown site fuels distrust.

Restart Details and Timeline

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) achieved a nuclear reaction in Reactor No. 6 at 19:02 JST on January 21, 2026, after Nuclear Regulation Authority approval. The restart followed a one-day delay from a control-rod alarm malfunction during testing on January 20. This marks TEPCO’s first reactor resumption since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi meltdowns triggered nationwide shutdowns. The plant, idle since 2012 inspections, features seven boiling-water reactors identical to Fukushima’s type.

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Post-Fukushima Safety Upgrades and Challenges

Japan installed strict upgrades after Fukushima, including 15-meter tsunami walls and elevated power systems at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. The site endured a 2007 earthquake and sits in a seismic fault zone 220 km northwest of Tokyo. Recent incidents include a January 18 alarm failure and Chubu Electric’s data falsification on seismic risks. TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa pledged ongoing safety verification, stating operations demand constant vigilance without arrogance. Nationwide, 14 of 33 operable reactors now run, with 13 active mid-January.

Stakeholder Conflicts and Local Backlash

Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi approved the restart in November 2025, followed by the prefectural assembly in December, despite surveys showing 60% resident opposition. A January 8 petition gathered 40,000 signatures citing inadequate evacuation plans. Protester Yumiko Abe, 73, questioned risking locals for Tokyo’s power. TEPCO aims to rebuild trust post-Fukushima while supplying energy to the capital. Japan’s government under PM Sanae Takaichi drives nuclear revival to hit the 20% electricity target by 2040.

Power dynamics pit TEPCO and the government against residents, with the Nuclear Regulation Authority holding final safety authority. Local voices lack direct veto but amplify through protests.

Energy Needs Driving Revival

Nuclear power supplied 30% of Japan’s electricity pre-2011 but dropped to 8.5% by 2023-24 due to phase-out fears. Resource-poor Japan seeks restarts to cut fossil fuel imports, support AI data centers, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This restart boosts output as the 15th nationwide, funding TEPCO’s decades-long Fukushima cleanup. Polls show divided opinion: 25-37% support amid waning anti-nuclear sentiment, per Dr. Jeffrey Hall of Kanda University.

Short-term, it tests TEPCO credibility; long-term, it signals global precedent for safe nuclear comebacks in high-risk areas, prioritizing energy security over lingering fears.