Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) restarted Unit 6 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata on January 21, bringing back online the first TEPCO-operated reactor since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The complex is described by multiple outlets as the world’s largest nuclear power plant by potential output/capacity when fully operational, though only one of its seven reactors is restarting now. Japan’s push to revive nuclear generation is framed as part of reducing reliance on fossil fuels and meeting long-term climate and rising power-demand goals, while the restart also revives local and national safety debates shaped by Fukushima memories.

Highlights:

• Start time: TEPCO said it started the unit at 19:02 on Wednesday, marking the first restart at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa since the post-2011 shutdown.
• Local opposition: A petition signed by about 40,000 people raised concerns about seismic risk near the plant, and Al Jazeera reported it as a focal point of opposition to the restart.
• Resident split: A September survey cited by Dawn found public opinion divided, with around 60% of residents opposed and 37% in support of restarting the plant.
• Governor approval: Niigata’s regional governor approved the resumption last month, clearing a key local hurdle for the restart.
• Global context: Semafor described the restart as part of a broader global effort to expand or extend nuclear power, noting the UK move to extend a major reactor’s life by 20 years and China building 35 nuclear units while the US is building none.

It’s Tokyo’s electricity that is produced in Kashiwazaki, so why should the people here be put at risk? That makes no sense - Yumiko Abe

Perspectives:

• TEPCO: The utility says it will proceed with careful verification of each facility’s integrity and address issues appropriately and transparently as operations resume. (Dawn)
• Local residents and protesters: Opponents argue the plant puts Niigata communities at risk for the benefit of electricity use elsewhere, and some protested outside the site in winter conditions. (Dawn)
• Petition organizers/citizens: A petition highlighted worries about seismic activity in the area around Kashiwazaki-Kariwa and urged caution about restarting operations. (Al Jazeera)
• Japanese government leadership: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has voiced support for nuclear power as Japan seeks to cut fossil-fuel dependence, pursue carbon neutrality by 2050, and meet growing electricity demand linked to artificial intelligence. (Dawn)

Sources:

• Japan restarts first nuclear reactor since Fukushima under close scrutiny - scmp.com
• Nuclear power gathers pace globally - semafor.com
• Fukushima nuclear plant operator restarts reactor at another plant, reviving safety concerns - abcnews.go.com
• Japan to restart world’s biggest nuclear plant after 15-year shutdown - aljazeera.com
• Japan to restart world’s biggest nuclear plant on January 21 - thehindu.com
• Japan restarts world's largest nuclear plant as Fukushima memories loom large - bbc.com
• Japan restarts world’s biggest nuclear plant 15 years after Fukushima disaster - dawn.com