Japan on Wednesday restarted the world’s largest nuclear power plant for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, a move that has reignited public anxiety and fierce opposition among residents despite assurances of strengthened safety measures.
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) confirmed that one reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear complex in Niigata Prefecture was brought back online at 7:02 p.m. local time, marking the first restart of a TEPCO-operated nuclear facility since Japan shut down its reactors following the Fukushima meltdown nearly 15 years ago.
The restart follows approval by the regional governor last month, but it remains deeply controversial. On Tuesday, dozens of protesters gathered in freezing conditions near the plant’s entrance, voicing fears over safety and questioning why communities along the Sea of Japan coast should bear risks to supply electricity to Tokyo.
“It’s Tokyo’s electricity that is produced here, so why should we be put in danger?” said 73-year-old resident Yumiko Abe, echoing sentiments shared by many locals.
A September survey showed that about 60 per cent of residents oppose the restart, while only 37 per cent support it. Critics cite concerns over seismic risks, evacuation plans and TEPCO’s past safety lapses. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa sits on an active fault line and was struck by a powerful earthquake in 2007.
Earlier this month, seven civic groups submitted a petition with nearly 40,000 signatures to TEPCO and Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority, warning that the facility’s location and history make it unsafe. “Making people anxious and fearful so as to send electricity to Tokyo is intolerable,” the petition stated.
TEPCO said it would proceed cautiously, stressing that extensive safety upgrades have been completed, including a 15-metre tsunami wall and elevated emergency power systems. The company pledged transparent verification of all facilities.
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Japan’s renewed push for nuclear energy comes as the country seeks to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, cut carbon emissions and meet rising energy demand driven by technologies such as artificial intelligence. Nuclear power currently accounts for less than 10 per cent of Japan’s electricity, down sharply from about one-third before 2011.
Despite government backing and support from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, scepticism remains high. “The situation in Fukushima is still not under control,” said 81-year-old protester Keisuke Abe. “Restarting another plant is unacceptable.”
As Japan balances climate goals with public safety concerns, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart underscores the enduring shadow of Fukushima and the difficult path ahead for the country’s nuclear ambitions.