On Monday, December 22, Niigata Prefecture approved the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, more than a decade after the Fukushima disaster.
The prefectural assembly endorsed Governor Hideyo Hanazumi's decision from last month, effectively allowing Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to begin reactivation work at the world's largest nuclear plant.
Outside the assembly, around 300 protesters rallied with banners reading "No Nukes" and "We oppose the restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa," voicing safety and environmental concerns.
For many locals and activists, memories of the Fukushima disaster fuel a national debate over the role of nuclear power in Japan's energy future.
TEPCO will now coordinate with national regulators on final safety checks before bringing the reactors back online, a process that observers say could shape Japan's broader energy policy in the months ahead.
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Protesters rally as Japan plans to restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant
cgtn.com
