A Jiji Press opinion poll reveals that 44.7% of Japanese respondents support restarting idled nuclear power plants, while 26.1% oppose it. The findings closely mirror a survey from July 2022. Support levels vary significantly by political affiliation.
A Jiji Press opinion poll released on December 12 shows that 44.7% of respondents in Japan favor bringing nuclear power plants back online, with 26.1% opposed and 29.2% offering no opinion or unsure. The telephone survey targeted 2,000 people aged 18 and older nationwide over four days ending Monday, yielding valid responses from 56.6%.
These figures nearly match a July 2022 survey under then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, where 48.4% supported restarts, 27.9% opposed, and 23.8% were neutral or unaware. Breakdowns by political support highlight divisions: among Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan backers, 46.7% opposed restarts, rising to 90.0% for Japanese Communist Party supporters. Non-partisan respondents showed 38.6% in favor and 27.6% against.
Since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, Japan has cautiously approached nuclear energy, emphasizing enhanced safety measures. This poll underscores ongoing public debate on balancing energy needs with safety concerns, as the government pushes for restarts amid climate and supply goals.
