The Niigata prefectural assembly passed a vote of confidence in Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who last month endorsed restarting the plant. The decision effectively removes the final political obstacle to resuming operations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, the world’s largest nuclear power facility by capacity, located about 220 kilometres northwest of Tokyo.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa was among 54 reactors shut down nationwide after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami triggered meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. Since then, Japan has brought 14 reactors back online out of the 33 still considered operable, as it seeks to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and strengthen energy security.
The plant would be the first nuclear facility restarted under the operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), which also ran Fukushima Daiichi. Public broadcaster NHK reported that TEPCO is considering reactivating the first of the site’s seven reactors as early as January 20, though the company declined to confirm a timeline.
While the assembly backed Hanazumi, the debate highlighted deep divisions within the local community. Lawmakers opposing the restart criticised the decision as politically driven and disconnected from public sentiment. Outside the assembly building, around 300 protesters gathered in freezing conditions, holding banners opposing nuclear power and questioning TEPCO’s ability to safely operate the plant.
TEPCO has sought to build local support by pledging to invest 100 billion yen ($641 million) in Niigata over the next decade, promising jobs and economic benefits. However, a prefectural survey published in October found that 60% of residents believed conditions for restarting the plant had not been met, and nearly 70% expressed concern about TEPCO’s role as operator.
Among the protesters was Ayako Oga, a farmer and anti-nuclear activist who fled the Fukushima region in 2011. She said the experience left lasting psychological scars and reinforced her opposition to restarting nuclear facilities. “We know firsthand the risk of a nuclear accident and cannot dismiss it,” she said.
Despite the controversy, the central government views the restart as critical. Japan’s trade ministry estimates that bringing just one reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa back online could increase electricity supply to the Tokyo region by about 2%. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office two months ago, has made nuclear restarts a pillar of her strategy to cut fuel import costs and bolster energy security.
Imported fossil fuels currently account for 60% to 70% of Japan’s power generation, with the country spending 10.7 trillion yen ($68 billion) last year on liquefied natural gas and coal. Looking ahead, officials expect electricity demand to rise due to the rapid growth of energy-intensive AI data centres, even as Japan’s population shrinks.
To meet demand and its climate goals, Japan aims to double nuclear power’s share of the electricity mix to 20% by 2040. Analysts say public acceptance of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart would be a crucial test for achieving that target.
Still, even Governor Hanazumi has expressed reservations about long-term dependence on nuclear energy, saying he hopes Japan can eventually transition away from power sources that cause public anxiety. For many residents and Fukushima survivors, the vote has revived painful memories and fears, underscoring the unresolved tensions at the heart of Japan’s nuclear revival.