Japan shuts reactor at world’s biggest nuclear plant a day after restart

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by By News AgenciesJanuary 22, 2026 at 01:30 PM

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A reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in Japan, the world's largest, was suspended a day after its restart on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The operator, TEPCO, which also manages the Fukushima plant, halted the process due to a malfunction related to the control rods, which are crucial for reactor startup and shutdown. The restart, initially scheduled for Tuesday, had already been delayed due to a prior technical issue with the rods. TEPCO stated that the reactor remains stable, there is no radioactive impact outside the plant, and they are investigating the situation. The duration of the shutdown is currently unknown.

Key Entities & Roles

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Philippines 35% China 35% Takashi Kobayashi 50% Fukushima ×270% Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) ×380% Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant ×385% Japan ×390%

Keywords

nuclear reactor 100% restart suspended 90% control rods 80% kashiwazaki-kariwa 70% nuclear power plant 60% malfunction 60% tepco 50% fukushima disaster 50% nuclear fission 40%