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November 14, 2025
 

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UTILITIES

Kansai Electric Power will not make a decision on construction based on the results of the survey alone and will take into account profitability and the Nuclear Regulation Authority's regulatory policy, the company's President Nozomu Mori said.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 3, 2025
Kansai Electric will soon begin survey for new nuclear reactor, sources say
The survey will mark the first concrete move toward nuclear reactor construction in Japan since the 2011 meltdowns at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings' Fukushima No. 1 plant.
Jera's Hekinan thermal power station in Hekinan, Aichi Prefecture. Jera gets about 2 million metric tons of LNG per year from Russia's Sakhalin-2.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 31, 2025
Japanese utilities say they can replace Sakhalin-2 if supply interrupted
The United States this month urged Japan, along with other Russian energy buyers, to stop imports as it pushes the Kremlin towards ending the war in Ukraine.
Kansai Electric Power plans to carry out geological and other surveys in Mihama, Fukui Prefecture, home to its Mihama nuclear power plant, as groundwork for next-generation reactors.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Oct 15, 2025
Kansai Electric to conduct surveys for new nuclear reactors
The government's renewed push for nuclear power comes amid a surge of new facilities with high electricity consumption, notably data centers and semiconductor plants.
The Gas Pavilion had welcomed around 500,000 visitors by the end of August, making it one of the most popular exhibits at the Osaka Expo.
ENVIRONMENT / Energy / OUR PLANET
Oct 12, 2025
At Osaka Expo, gas giants promote a greener future. But is it a lot of hot air?
While major Japanese gas companies have lauded e-methane as key in fighting climate change, experts paint a different picture.
The Japanese government provided subsidies of up to ¥2.4 per kilowatt-hour of electricity and ¥10 per cubic meter of gas from July through September to reduce monthly fees by about ¥3,000 in total.
BUSINESS
Sep 27, 2025
Japanese power and city gas suppliers to raise rates next month
Major power and city gas suppliers are set to raise rates in October following the end of the government's subsidy program in September.
Kansai Electric Power is preparing to decommission the No.1 and No. 2 units at its oil-fired Gobo thermal power station in Wakayama Prefecture, according to informed sources.
JAPAN
Sep 26, 2025
Kansai Electric to retire two units at Gobo oil-fired power station
The two units are expected to be decommissioned around next June, sources said.
Elliott Investment Management has acquired a stake in Japanese regional utility Kansai Electric Power, according to a person familiar with the matter.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 10, 2025
Activist fund Elliott reported to take stake in Kansai Electric, eyeing assets
Activist hedge funds have been honing in on property held by Japanese companies valued at its original cost on their balance sheets as part of their investment strategy.
Chugoku Electric Managing Executive Officer Satoshi Osedo (right) and Tetsuo Nishi, mayor of the town of Kaminoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture on Friday. The two pose for a photo as Osedo hands Nishi a feasibility study report on an interim storage facility for spent fuel from nuclear power plants.
JAPAN
Aug 31, 2025
Yamaguchi prefecture town can store nuclear fuel: Chugoku Electric
Chugoku Electric detected no active faults announced low risk factors such as volcanic activity and tsunami.
The Bishu Maru LNG tanker, owned by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, next to the Freeport LNG terminal in Texas
ENVIRONMENT / Energy / OUR PLANET
Aug 3, 2025
How Trump is gaslighting on climate change — with Japan’s help
As the U.S. president ramps up high-polluting LNG projects, Japan is among the nations he's pressuring for investments. The economic case for the push, however, is far from clear.
The No. 2 (left) and No. 1 reactor buildings stand at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Ohi nuclear power station in Ohi Town, Fukui Prefecture.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 19, 2025
Kansai Electric eyes next-generation reactor at plant in Fukui Prefecture
This is the first concrete move toward building a new reactor in the country since the March 2011 disaster.
A power supply agreement allowing Tokyo Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power to procure energy from leading generator Jera is set to expire at the end of March.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 10, 2025
Power trading in Japan set to grow as Jera purchase deal expires
The shake-up is already driving hedging activity in the futures market, as traders position for potential changes in supply and demand.
Utility poles in urban areas such as Tokyo have a high risk of collapsing in the event of a disaster.
JAPAN
Jul 7, 2025
Japan eyes new target for replacing utility poles with underground power cables
The main goal is to remove utility poles along urban-area emergency transport routes that have a high risk of collapsing in the event of a disaster.
The government plans to spend ¥288.1 billion from its fiscal 2025 budget reserves for electricity and gas subsidies, which will help lower energy bills next month.
JAPAN
Jun 27, 2025
Household electricity bills in Japan set to fall in July due to subsidies
The nation's 10 major electricity suppliers said Friday that power bills for standard households will fall by between ¥520 and ¥691 in July from the previous month.
Tokyo Gas is in talks with at least four U.S. liquefied natural gas suppliers to secure a purchase deal, according to sources.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 26, 2025
Tokyo gas in talks to seal long-term U.S. LNG purchase deals
Japan’s largest gas distributor is in talks with at least four companies over supply from projects dotting the U.S. Gulf Coast, according to sources.
Power supply shortages may occur even if nuclear power reactors and aging thermal power plants are rebuilt, an industry organization warns.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 26, 2025
Japan's power demand may grow by up to 40% by 2050
A report warned that supply shortages may occur even if nuclear power reactors and aging thermal power plants are rebuilt.
Marubeni will jointly hold Senoko with Singapore’s Sembcorp Utilities.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 25, 2025
Marubeni boosts power role in Singapore by raising Senoko stake
Following the acquisition, Marubeni will jointly hold Senoko with Singapore’s Sembcorp Utilities.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings will cut July electricity bills for standard households by ¥616 from the previous month to ¥8,236.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 19, 2025
Tepco to cut household electricity bills in July
Nine other major power suppliers and four major city gas providers are also likely to considerably reduce their rates.
After the appellate court ruling in the shareholders' lawsuit over the Tepco Fukushima No.1 nuclear accident, plaintiffs hold up signs reading "Unjust Ruling" on Friday in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 6, 2025
High court overturns ruling against ex-Tepco executives
The count found the executives were unable to predict the tsunami that triggered the triple reactor meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
Tugboats assist a liquified natural gas tanker as it docks at a port in Yantai, China, in February. In 2021, China became the largest importer of LNG, and as of this year, China now has the most long-term LNG contracts.
ENVIRONMENT / Energy / OUR PLANET
Jun 1, 2025
China is eroding Japan's LNG dominance. How does that affect Japanese buyers?
Japanese companies have long held the leading position in the buying and trading of one of the world's key energy sources, but that era of hegemony has come to an end.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is looking to make the cost of base service fees in water utility bills free during the summer, hoping the financial support will allow residents to turn on their air conditioners and protect themselves against heatstroke.
JAPAN / Society
May 20, 2025
Tokyo to cover cost of base service fees for water utilities through summer
By lowering utility fees, the metropolitan government hopes to give residents a sense of security that they can accommodate other necessary expenses.
From France to Mali, a deportee's struggle far from home
Moussa Sacko, a Malian deported from France — where he had lived since he was a young child — stands on a street in Bamako, Mali, in December. Compared with his home in France, Bamako feels like a different planet, Sacko said.
Tokyo ranked world’s richest city by GDP, with Osaka-Kobe also rated highly
Tokyo has a gross domestic product of $2.55 trillion, just ahead of New York’s $2.49 trillion and Greater Los Angeles’ $1.62 trillion, according to CEOWorld’s global wealth index.
Tokyo looks to keep ‘monster parents’ at bay with new protocols
New guidelines are addressing struggles by teachers to deal with the burden of parents who make irrational complaints that go beyond what is considered socially acceptable, often referred to as "monster parents," which is overwhelming their workload.
China delivers warning to U.S. and Japan with third aircraft carrier
The Fujian, China's third aircraft carrier, carries out sea trials at an unknown location in May last year.
Japan lawmakers eye firm response to Chinese envoy's threat to behead PM
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Friday.
Tatsuya Nakadai: A masterful leading man and postwar icon
Tatsuya Nakadai had the look of a leading man in his youth, but his large and searching eyes suggested the pain and loneliness of an old soul.
As Japan’s female leader rises, can she cross sumo’s sacred line?
Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hakkaku (front center) delivers a speech on the first day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Sunday. Centuries of belief and tradition still underpin the all-male association's stance of excluding women.
Takaichi doesn’t mince words on Taiwan, but dramatic policy shift unlikely
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responds to questions during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session in parliament on Tuesday.
Florist Nicolai Bergmann flourishes outside the box
Florist Nicolai Bergmann shops for fresh flowers at the Ota flower market in Tokyo on Friday.
China delivers warning to U.S. and Japan with third aircraft carrier
The Fujian, China's third aircraft carrier, carries out sea trials at an unknown location in May last year.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

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Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years
By Yukana Inoue

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 6th annual Sustainable Japan Award.
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 6th annual Sustainable Japan Award.

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