December 22, 2025 | 11:00 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Niigata region in Japan is expected to approve the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant on Monday, December 22, 2025. This marks a vital moment in the country’s return to nuclear energy since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa sits about 220 kilometers northwest of Tokyo. It was among 54 reactors shut down after a massive earthquake and a tsunami caused the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown, the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.
Since the disaster, Japan has restarted 14 of its 33 remaining reactors to cut its reliance on imported fossil fuels. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa would be the first plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) to return to service. TEPCO also managed the failed Fukushima plant.
"We remain firmly committed to never repeating such an accident and ensuring Niigata residents never experience anything similar," said TEPCO spokesman Masakatsu Takata, according to CNA.
If local leaders give the green light, TEPCO plans to reactivate the first of seven reactors at the site on January 20, 2026, per broadcaster NHK. Takata did not confirm the exact date.
Residents Reluctant
To gain local support, TEPCO promised to invest 100 billion yen in the Niigata prefecture over the next 10 years. However, many residents remain wary. A survey by the prefecture in October showed that 60 percent of locals believe conditions for a restart have not been met. Nearly 70 percent expressed concern about TEPCO running the facility.
Ayako Oga, 52, moved to Niigata after fleeing the Fukushima area in 2011. She was one of 160,000 refugees, as her home sat within the 20-kilometer radiation zone. Now a farmer and activist, she joins protests against the restart.
"We know firsthand the risk of a nuclear accident and cannot dismiss it," Oga said. She added that she still suffers from stress and trauma caused by the Fukushima crisis.
Even Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who backed the restart last month, hopes Japan can eventually move away from nuclear power. "I want to see an era where we don't have to rely on energy sources that cause anxiety," he stated.
Strengthening Security
On Monday, the prefectural assembly will vote on a motion of confidence for Hanazumi. This serves as a final vote on the plant’s reactivation. This step is the last major hurdle before TEPCO restarts the first reactor. Japan's Ministry of Trade says the move could boost Tokyo's electricity supply by 2 percent.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office two months ago, supports the restart to bolster energy security. Japan currently relies on imported fossil fuels for 60 to 70 percent of its power. Last year, the country spent 10.7 trillion yen on coal and liquefied natural gas, accounting for a tenth of all import costs.
Despite a falling population, Japan expects energy demand to rise over the next decade due to AI data centers. To meet this demand and hit climate goals, Japan aims to double nuclear energy's share of its power mix to 20 percent by 2040. Joshua Ngu, an expert at Wood Mackenzie, said public approval for Kashiwazaki-Kariwa would be a "critical milestone" for this plan.
In July, Kansai Electric Power said it would survey sites for new reactors in western Japan. These would be the first new units since the 2011 disaster. But for Oga, who will protest at the Niigata parliament on Monday, the return of nuclear power brings back dark memories. "Every news update about the restart - it's like reliving the fear," she said.
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