With the Liberal Democratic Party's sweeping election victory Sunday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to increase his efforts to revive nuclear power despite persistent public opposition.
Although polls show that most people are against restarting reactors idled following the 2011 Fukushima crisis, Abe has continued to promote nuclear as a key source of energy, arguing its use is necessary to maintain stable and cheap electricity in resource-poor Japan.
Abe hopes early next year to restart two reactors at Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s nuclear plant in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture, which in September became the first to meet tighter, post-Fukushima safety regulations.