Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi approved the restart of the world's largest nuclear plant, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility, on Friday. This marks the first restart for operator TEPCO since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The move supports Japan's goals to reduce fossil fuel reliance and achieve carbon neutrality.
Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi expressed his intention to approve the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant's No. 6 reactor during a press conference on Friday, November 21, 2025. Operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings (TEPCO), this facility is the world's largest nuclear plant and has been offline since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake triggered meltdowns at TEPCO's Fukushima No. 1 plant.
The approval requires endorsement from the prefectural assembly and final clearance from Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority. Hanazumi stated that better communication of safety measures and disaster prevention steps would increase residents' understanding. A prefectural survey showed 50% support and 47% opposition for the restart, reflecting deep-seated distrust of TEPCO among locals. Niigata Prefecture, served by Tohoku Electric Power rather than TEPCO, has proceeded cautiously through public hearings.
Japan, a resource-poor nation, seeks to revive nuclear power to cut fossil fuel dependence—70% of 2023 electricity came from coal, gas, and oil, costing about $500 million daily in imports. The country, the world's fifth-largest CO2 emitter, aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, with renewables as the top source by 2040 and nuclear at 20% of supply (up from 5.6% in 2022). Fourteen reactors have restarted nationwide since post-Fukushima standards, but none from TEPCO until now.
The plant features upgrades like a 15-meter tsunami wall and elevated backup power systems. TEPCO must reform its scandal-plagued culture and bolster safety. Restarting one reactor could improve finances by ¥100 billion annually, aiding the Fukushima decommissioning, estimated to exceed ¥8 trillion.
