National Dec 18, 2020
Japanese government launches appeal over Oi nuclear plant restart
Local residents and others have claimed there are problems with earthquake resistance at the Fukui Prefecture plant.
National | FYI Dec 9, 2020
Oi ruling could signal trouble ahead for nuclear reactor restart plans
by Eric Johnston
An Osaka court has stunned the nuclear power industry with a ruling saying Kepco's calculations for standards involving earthquake safety were flawed.
National Dec 4, 2020
Japan court nullifies approval of Oi nuclear reactor's safety steps
It is the first time a court has blocked government approval for a power company to operate a nuclear plant under new, post-Fukushima safety standards.
National Nov 25, 2020
The town assembly of Takahama, Fukui Prefecture, on Wednesday greenlighted the restart of two old reactors at a local nuclear power plant. The approval was given at a meeting of all assembly members. Ten of the 13 members, excluding its chair, were in favor of ...
National / Social Issues | FYI Nov 18, 2020
As nuclear worries linger, Tohoku plant heads for landmark restart
by Eric Johnston
The restart, the first in the northeast, comes amidst controversial restarts in the country's west and debates over the energy source's role in a carbon neutral target.
National Nov 12, 2020
Tsunami-hit Onagawa reactor in northeast Japan gets final approval to restart
The No. 2 unit of the Onagawa plant is the first of the reactors damaged in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster to win final approval with local consent to restart.
National Oct 23, 2020
It is now highly likely that Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai will agree to resuming operation of the No. 2 reactor at the nuclear plant.
National Oct 14, 2020
The governor of Miyagi Prefecture would become the first to greenlight the restart of a nuclear plant damaged in the 3/11 disasters.
Business Apr 14, 2020
Japan revises down emissions due to renewable use and nuclear restarts
Japan revised lower its latest greenhouse gas emissions figures, which it had already reported as the least since records began in 1990. Emissions fell 3.9 percent from a year earlier, data Tuesday from the environment ministry showed, a bigger drop than the 3.6 percent estimate ...
Business | FYI: Kepco Mar 29, 2020
A closer look at Kansai Electric and its gift-giving scandal
by Eric Johnston
Earlier this month, Kansai Electric Power Co. concluded that scores of its employees had received cash and gifts worth hundreds of millions of yen from an influential politician in a Fukui Prefecture town where the utility operates a nuclear power plant. The revelations by ...
National Feb 26, 2020
No. 2 reactor at Onagawa nuclear plant in Miyagi, halted by 2011 tsunami, passes safety screening
A nuclear reactor in Miyagi Prefecture damaged by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster formally cleared screening by a national nuclear watchdog on Wednesday, paving the way for it to restart after anti-disaster measures are completed by the end of March next year. The No. ...
National / Crime & Legal Jan 27, 2020
Shikoku Electric won't appeal injunction over Ikata nuclear plant, for now
Shikoku Electric Power Co. said it won't appeal a high court injunction against operating the No. 3 reactor at its Ikata nuclear power plant in Ehime Prefecture, at least for the time being. "It is not the right time to appeal the injunction," Shikoku Electric ...