New education and science minister Makiko Tanaka wasted little time before stirring up some controversy, questioning the strategy of phasing out nuclear power generation by the 2030s without terminating the long-standing policy to recycle spent fuel.
"It is very contradictory," Tanaka, who is known for her outspokenness, told reporters Monday after she was named to the new Cabinet lineup.
Continuing the spent fuel policy is seen as reflecting the government's consideration of the repercussions on local governments that host related facilities and on the United States, which has close ties with Japan's nuclear industry.