Japan Moves to Restart World's Largest Nuclear Plant Amid Safety Concerns
Japan is moving forward with plans to restart the world's largest nuclear power station, a significant step in the nation's energy policy more than a decade after the Fukushima disaster. The process, however, is unfolding amid persistent public anxiety and fresh allegations of safety misconduct within the industry.
The focus is on the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata prefecture, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). National regulators have approved the restart of reactors at the facility, which has been completely idle since 2012 [7944][8118][9816]. The final step requires formal consent from local authorities, which is widely expected [35900][7965][8319]. If reactors resume operation, it would mark the first time a TEPCO-run plant has generated power since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused meltdowns at its Fukushima Daiichi facility [33081][10155].
The national government supports the restart to ensure a stable energy supply and reduce reliance on expensive imported fuel [32266][33081]. Officials emphasize that the plant must meet strict new safety standards enacted after the Fukushima crisis [32266].
Nevertheless, the push to restart has ignited strong opposition and renewed scrutiny of nuclear operators' practices. Critics, including anti-nuclear groups, have long questioned the seismic safety of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa site, with some mockingly referring to its foundation as being "built on tofu" [35900]. Public trust remains low, largely due to TEPCO's handling of the Fukushima disaster [33081].
This distrust has been compounded by recent accusations of safety data manipulation at other plants. A whistleblower has alleged that a different power company concealed critical earthquake risk data to gain restart approval for its Tsuruga reactor [42890]. In a separate case, Chubu Electric Power admitted its staff may have "cherry-picked" seismic safety data for its Hamaoka plant, leading regulators to halt their safety review [42639]. These incidents represent a major setback for the government's restart efforts and have prompted formal investigations [42639][42890].
The situation has also attracted international criticism. Chinese officials have separately accused Japan of "forgery of quality control" in its nuclear sector, deepening tensions over nuclear safety practices [34235].
As Japan moves to bring its largest nuclear facility back online, the process underscores the ongoing national dilemma: balancing energy needs with public safety in the long shadow of Fukushima.