Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), is the world's largest nuclear power plant, located in Niigata province, Japan. It has been largely shut down since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, which prompted a nationwide reactor shutdown. The plant is newsworthy because Japan is attempting to restart it after a 15-year shutdown, signaling a shift back to nuclear energy. On January 21, 2026, TEPCO announced it would restart reactor No. 6 after receiving final approval from the nuclear regulator. However, the restart was suspended just hours after it began on January 22, 2026, due to a malfunction related to control rods. Despite the suspension, the reactor remains in a stable condition. The plant's restart is controversial, with a petition signed by 40,000 people relaying concerns about seismic activity in the area.