Fifteen Years After Fukushima: Japan Set to Revive the World’s Largest Nuclear Hub

In a landmark shift for the nation's energy landscape, Japan is poised to greenlight the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, marking a pivotal recovery point nearly 15 years after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Located 220 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, the facility had been mothballed alongside dozens of others following the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that triggered a meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi. This restart, expected to be ratified by the Niigata regional government this Monday, signifies Japan’s bold return to nuclear energy as a strategy to slash reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports and meet carbon neutrality goals.

To date, Japan has successfully reactivated 14 of its 33 viable reactors. However, the revival of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa holds immense symbolic and practical weight, as it is managed by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)—the same utility at the center of the Fukushima crisis. According to NHK, TEPCO is preparing to bring the first of the plant’s seven reactors back online as early as January 20, contingent on final local approvals. This move highlights a rigorous overhaul of safety protocols and a national effort to balance energy security with the traumatic lessons of the past.