14 Years After Fukushima: World's Largest Nuclear Plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, Gets Restart Approval
14 years after the Fukushima disaster, TEPCO has won local approval to restart a reactor at the world's largest nuclear plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. It's a major turning point for Japan's energy policy.
Japan's nuclear ambitions are flickering back to life. On December 23, 2025, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced it received formal consent from the governor of Niigata Prefecture to restart Unit 6 of its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant—the largest in the world. This marks the first time a nuclear plant operated by TEPCO, the company behind the 2011Fukushima disaster, has won local approval to bring a reactor back online.
A Decision After a Long Silence
The governor's consent, delivered on the afternoon of December 23rd, ends a 14-year hiatus for the massive plant, which has been entirely idle since the 2011 catastrophe. The decision follows years of rigorous safety reviews, infrastructure upgrades, and protracted negotiations with the local community. The Japanese government and TEPCO have argued that the restart is essential for strengthening the country's energy security and stabilizing electricity prices.
An Anxious Return Amid Controversy
However, the path to reactivation is fraught with public anxiety. Opposition from local residents and civic groups remains fierce, rooted in a deep-seated distrust of TEPCO due to its role in the Fukushima disaster. Ongoing safety concerns at other Japanese nuclear facilities, such as a recent tritium-laced water leak at the Fugen reactor, only fuel the skepticism. While the business community welcomes the prospect of a stable power supply, opponents point to seismic risks and the unsolved problem of spent nuclear fuel, demanding the decision be reversed.
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