Niigata

Niigata province is the location of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world's largest. Operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the plant has been largely offline since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, which prompted a nationwide shutdown of nuclear reactors in Japan. The plant is newsworthy due to recent attempts to restart operations after a 14-year shutdown. On Wednesday, January 2026, TEPCO initiated the restart of reactor number six, a day later than planned. However, operations were suspended just hours later due to an alarm sounding during reactor start-up procedures, although TEPCO stated the reactor remained stable. The restart attempt followed a petition signed by 40,000 expressing concerns about seismic activity risks. The plant's status is significant as Japan grapples with energy policy in the wake of Fukushima, balancing energy needs with public safety concerns.