Let 2026 Be the Year Nuclear Power Returns as Core Energy Source
Tohoku Electric Power's Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 restarted in October 2024. The station strengthened its safety measures, including the construction of seawalls.
March will mark 15 years since a massive tsunami engulfed the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
At the time, Japan had 54 nuclear power plants in operation. However, after the Great East Japan Earthquake, that number was reduced to 33. Despite heavy demand, only 14 of the offline plants have been restarted.
Aversion to nuclear power remains strong among the general public. Meanwhile, social and economic conditions have changed dramatically. Globally, there are rising tensions directly linked to energy security. At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence and its interplay with the economy must be considered.
Japan relies on overseas sources for the majority of its energy resources. To protect industries and people's livelihoods, it is essential that the nation's power mix simultaneously achieve a stable supply and decarbonization. For that to be achieved, the country needs to foster an unbiased, rational evaluation of nuclear power, which is, in fac,t a semi-domestic energy source.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 6 Coming Online
New trends surrounding nuclear power are emerging in response to changes in the global situation. For example, Unit 6 of TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station in Niigata Prefecture is scheduled to restart on January 20. Although some locals opposed the move, sentiment in favor of restarting the plant prevailed in the end.
The power generated by Unit 6 contributes to maintaining the functions of the capital area around Tokyo. Therefore, its revival is of great significance.
Already, the Tohoku Electric Power Co's Onagawa Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 in Miyagi Prefecture restarted in October 2024. Soon thereafter, Chugoku Electric's Shimane Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 was restarted in December.
We would point out that these three reactors are boiling water reactors. This type has been slow to restart compared to the pressurized water reactors operated by Kansai Electric Power Co and other companies. However, they are now finally coming back online.
Hokkaido Electric Power Co's Tomari Nuclear Power Station Unit 3 passed safety inspections conducted by the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) in July 2025. It is also preparing to restart Unit 3 as early as 2027. It appears that nuclear power is on a path to recovering its former position as a core power source for the nation.
Addressing Safety Issues
Meanwhile, structural issues have surfaced. For example, there is the issue of installing specialized safety facilities for dealing with such things as specified serious accidents. This is part of the nuclear energy counterterrorism measures.
Moreover, Tohoku Electric's Onagawa No 2 reactor will have to shut down at the end of December 2026. It is under a deadline for completing the installation of specialized safety facilities to deal with serious accidents. Part of the delay is due to longer timeframes in the construction industry resulting from workstyle reforms.
Despite this complication, the five-year construction deadline has been left unchanged. Since construction related to conventional safety measures and the specialized facilities to deal with serious accidents will need to be carried out simultaneously, the burden on the power company will be extremely heavy.
The restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 7 was also postponed due to delays in the installation of the specialized safety facilities. One wonders whether the NRA has even noticed the drastic changes in social conditions.
After all, the NRA's mission should be not to "shut down" nuclear power plants, but to ensure they are "operating safely." In this regard, the irregularities found in the earthquake assessment Chubu Electric provided to the NRA after its review of the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station in Shizuoka Prefecture are certainly unfortunate.
A stable, large-scale power source is essential for the development of an advanced digital society symbolized by AI. Despite the drawbacks, nuclear power generation is currently the only viable source.
The world is moving towards expanded use of nuclear power. In Japan, also, new construction of nuclear power plants and reconstruction of existing facilities are in the works. This is a proactive and healthy response to the nation's evolving energy needs.
Geological Disposal and Reprocessing
Kansai Electric has begun a field survey to examine the feasibility of building a next-generation innovative reactor at its Mihama Nuclear Power Station in Fukui Prefecture. There is a direct connection between nuclear power plant construction, the transfer of technology from plant manufacturers, and the maintenance of supply chains for components and materials. For the effective use of nuclear power, the capacity to produce and operate power plants must remain domestic.
The prospect of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel should also be revisited. Meanwhile, there is still a focus on the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. This year, the question is whether to move to the next stage after the literature survey. These have already been conducted in two towns and villages in Hokkaido. That is the stage for a preliminary survey.
If the preliminary survey proceeds, it will likely raise nationwide interest. That could lead to an increase in the number of municipalities considering literature surveys for nuclear waste disposal. We hope that the governor of Hokkaido will make a wise decision and give the go-ahead for the preliminary survey.
The Japan nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture, is also urgently needed. It is targeted for completion during FY2026. Overall, there is a need for a nuclear fuel cycle that makes nuclear power generation sustainable. In turn, that depends upon the availability of reprocessing plants and sites for geological disposal of the resulting waste.
Limits of Solar and Wind Power
After the Fukushima accident, other renewable energy sources proliferated due to the adoption of preferential policies.
However, in light of forecasts for a rapid increase in electricity demand, these sources of energy are facing their limits. Concerns about destruction of the natural environment by mega solar power facilities have grown in affected regions. And, in late December, the government approved measures designed to prevent inappropriate development. Offshore wind power generation has also become problematic due to rising costs and other factors.
The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi disaster taught us some harsh lessons. That is all the more reason why the government must not react emotionally. Instead, it must construct a responsible energy mix by rationally enhancing safety systems and expanding our scientific and technological capabilities.
Let 2026 be the starting point for restoring Japan's power supply foundations, centered on nuclear power.
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(Read the editorial in Japanese.)
Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
