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Japan is set to restart the world’s largest nuclear plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, on January 20, 2026, pending final approval from the country’s nuclear regulator. The plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), has been offline since 2012 following the Fukushima disaster. The restart is part of Japan’s efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and meet growing energy demands.
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant has a total capacity of 8.2 GW, and restarting one of its reactors, Unit 6, is expected to boost electricity supply to the Tokyo region by 2%. TEPCO has pledged to invest ¥100 billion ($641 million) in the local community over the next decade to ease resistance to the restart. The move is seen as a significant step in Japan’s return to nuclear energy, with the government targeting 20% of its energy mix to come from nuclear power by 2040.
However, the restart has been delayed due to a safety alarm malfunction detected during a pre-startup test. The fault was due to incorrect system settings, which have now been corrected. Authorities confirmed that the reactor is now “recovered from the deviation,” but has decided to proceed with additional caution, delaying the restart for an indefinite period.
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant’s restart is a test for the wider Japan nuclear industry, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pushing for new reactor build-ups to boost energy security. Japan shut down all its 54 reactors after the Fukushima meltdown but has since restarted 14 of the 33 that remain operable.
Public opposition remains strong, with concerns about safety and the potential risks of another nuclear accident. A survey published by the prefecture in October found 60% of residents did not think conditions for the restart had been met. Nearly 70% were worried about TEPCO operating the plant.
The restart of Unit 6 is a significant milestone for Japan’s energy strategy, but it’s just the beginning. The plant’s total capacity of 8.2 GW represents a massive potential asset, but its return to full operation is a years-long journey. Unit 7 is not scheduled for restart until around 2030, and the fate of the other five units remains undecided.
