For the first time since the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands of people and crippled the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, Japan didn't hold a state memorial for the disaster anniversary Friday.
On the eve of the 11th anniversary of the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, some ruling party lawmakers urged the government to hasten the restart of nuclear power plants, most of them idled since 2011 because of safety concerns.
As memories of the tragedy fade, proponents of nuclear power have become emboldened to speak out in its favor, seizing on a new threat of soaring energy prices amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.