Activity around the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant is intensifying as Tokyo Electric Power prepares to restart one of its reactors for the first time since the Fukushima disaster. Heavy machinery is widening access roads, lorries move through tightly guarded entrances and razor wire lines the vast perimeter of the site on Japan’s Sea of Japan coast.
When fully operational, the seven-reactor complex can generate 8.2 gigawatts of electricity, making it the largest nuclear power plant in the world. Located in Niigata prefecture, about 220 kilometers north-west of Tokyo, the facility has remained idle since 2012, following the nationwide shutdown of reactors after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi meltdown.
Tepco plans to restart reactor No. 6, a move expected to increase electricity supply to the Tokyo region by around 2%. The company briefly delayed the restart this week after an alarm malfunctioned during equipment testing, but Japanese broadcaster NHK reported the reactor is now expected to come back online in the coming days.
The restart would mark a significant step in Japan’s gradual return to nuclear energy, which the government views as essential to meeting emissions targets and strengthening energy security. Yet the plan has reignited strong opposition among local residents who fear a repeat of past disasters.
More than 420,000 people live within a 30-kilometer radius of the plant and would need to evacuate in the event of a serious accident. Many question whether evacuation plans are realistic, particularly in winter when heavy snow can block roads in the region.
Tepco says it has learned from Fukushima and has invested heavily in safety upgrades. These include higher seawalls, watertight doors, mobile diesel generators, enhanced cooling systems and improved filters designed to limit the release of radioactive materials. The company has also pledged to invest 100 billion yen in Niigata prefecture over the next decade to rebuild trust.
Despite these measures, public opposition remains strong. A prefectural survey conducted last year showed more than 60% of residents within 30 kilometers of the plant believe conditions for a restart have not been met. Critics also point to seismic risks in the area, which was hit by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake in 2007 that damaged parts of the facility.
The controversy comes as Japan accelerates its nuclear strategy. Before Fukushima, nuclear power accounted for about 30% of electricity generation. Today, only 14 of the country’s 33 operable reactors are running, with many restart efforts facing local resistance.
For residents near Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, the planned restart symbolizes a broader struggle between national energy policy and local safety concerns. Many argue that protecting lives should outweigh the push to bring nuclear power back online.
