Japan restarts first nuclear reactor since Fukushima under close scrutiny

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by KyodoJanuary 21, 2026 at 03:18 PM

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Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) restarted the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in Niigata Prefecture on Wednesday, marking its first reactor restart since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. This is the 15th reactor in Japan to resume operation under stricter safety standards implemented after Fukushima. The restart is a significant step for the Japanese government, which advocates for nuclear power due to the country's limited resources. The reactor reached criticality at 8:28 PM local time, and Tepco plans to begin transmitting power to Tokyo on a trial basis next Tuesday, with commercial operation scheduled for February 26. The restart is under close scrutiny due to public safety concerns following the Fukushima incident.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Kyodo 30% Chernobyl disaster 50% Niigata Prefecture 60% Tokyo ×260% Kashiwazaki-Kariwa ×270% Fukushima ×280% Japan ×280% Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) ×390%

Keywords

nuclear reactor restart 100% fukushima disaster 90% nuclear power 80% safety measures 70% tepco 70% kashiwazaki-kariwa 60% post-fukushima safety standards 50% reactor criticality 50% energy policy 40%