Takeo Hiranuma, economy, trade and industry chief, will visit Niigata Prefecture on Wednesday to try to gain local government approval to restart a nuclear reactor.
Hiranuma said Tuesday he is scheduled to meet with Niigata Gov. Ikuo Hirayama, Kashiwazaki Mayor Masazumi Saikawa, Kariwa Village Mayor Hiroo Shinada and members of the prefectural and municipal government assemblies.
Hiranuma is hoping to gain local support for restarting the No. 4 nuclear reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co.