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August 29, 2025
 

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UTILITIES

JAPAN
Dec 15, 2023
Tepco's Fukushima No. 1 victim compensation costs set to rise
Factors in the increase includes pay outs to fishery operators due to the releases into the ocean of tritium-containing treated wastewater from the plant.
An offshore wind turbine, operated by Swancor Holding stands in the Taiwan Strait off the coast of Miaoli County, Taiwan, in 2018.
BUSINESS
Nov 17, 2023
Japan firms exit Taiwan offshore wind projects amid industry woes
Shikoku Electric Power decided to pull out of the Yunlin Offshore Wind Project in the Taiwan Strait due to delays threatening its profitability.
JAPAN
Nov 3, 2023
Kansai Electric applies to run Takahama reactor beyond 50th year
The No. 1 reactor at the plant in Fukui Prefecture is the oldest active reactor in Japan, having been commissioned in November 1974.
Utilities are increasingly controlling power output from renewable energy sources as the share of renewables expands.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Oct 30, 2023
Renewable energy cuts from output controls surge sixfold in Japan
With renewables such as solar power in wider use, output controls aimed at balancing power supply and demand have been used more frequently.
A Jera thermal power plant
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 6, 2023
Japan climate group calls for ban on top power firm's emission claims
The group says the ads may mislead consumers as Jera fails to mention that the ammonia the utility plans to use would emit CO2 during production.
BUSINESS
Sep 27, 2023
Industry ministry sees LNG stocks recovering toward winter
LNG stocks have been declining since May as a long, hot summer boosted the use of air-conditioners, lifting demand for power and fuels.
A liquefied natural gas tanker is tugged toward a thermal power station in Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture, in November 2017
BUSINESS
Sep 20, 2023
Japan’s dwindling LNG inventories could prompt new purchases
Storage held by Japan’s power suppliers fell to 1.62 million tons as of Sept. 17, according to data compiled by the trade ministry.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 15, 2023
Japan moves to make more effective use of solar power
Efforts are being made to use surplus electricity generated during the daytime by solar power and to shift power demand according to supply.
JAPAN
Sep 11, 2023
Chugoku Electric plans to restart Shimane reactor next August
The move comes as Japan aims to reboot more reactors to help diversify its electricity mix.
Kansai Electric Power's Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 3, 2023
Japan's nuclear restarts this year to hasten LNG import decline
Kansai Electric Power's plan next month to relaunch the last idle reactor at its flagship nuclear plant will mark an energy shift in Japan.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Jun 27, 2023
Competition growing over sales of energy-saving goods in Japan
Many consumers are buying new air conditioners to replace old ones as the hot and humid season gets underway.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
May 16, 2023
Japan approves up to 42% increase in household electricity prices
Seven of Japan’s major energy providers will raise household their prices from June, in a move likely to add to inflation.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 13, 2023
Kansai Electric and four others submit business improvement plans
Kansai Electric Power Co. and four other Japanese power companies have submitted to the industry ministry plans to improve their business operations after unauthorized accesses to customer information managed by subsidiaries.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
May 8, 2023
Crows’ nests on utility poles in Fukushima raise risk of power outages
Data shows that the number of crow-nest removals in Fukushima Prefecture totaled 1,903 in 2022, roughly tripling from 662 in 2013.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 30, 2023
Momentum grows over a 'just' climate transition in Japan, but more action needed
The government and NGOs have begun to engage with the climate issue, but more work needs to be done to ensure workers in high-emitting industries and regions don’t get left behind.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 28, 2023
Kyushu Electric to raise ¥200 billion to fund green transition
Japanese utilities were hit by high fuel costs last year as a post-pandemic energy crisis was exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
BUSINESS
Apr 27, 2023
Three Japanese utilities report combined ¥134 billion loss on high fuel prices
Having nuclear power among its energy sources helped Kansai Electric Power to manage a net profit of ¥17.7 billion but it was still 79% lower than in the 2021 fiscal year.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Apr 4, 2023
How solar roofs are being used to power electric cars
The future of solar-powered vehicles is becoming clear: smaller, lighter, cheaper and a subtle augmentation electric driving, rather than power it in full.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 2, 2023
Biden’s landmark climate bill lures China’s clean energy giants
China’s leading renewables firms are joining the rush to open factories in the U.S. after Washington passed a landmark climate bill that supports local clean energy manufacturing.
BUSINESS
Mar 28, 2023
Missed rate hikes to stick Japanese utilities with revenue shortfall
Japan's government is taking time to approve the requests from utilities such as Tepco to ease the historically high inflation burden on consumers.
Philippine bid to acquire used Japanese warships gains steam
Tokyo is looking to transfer Abukuma-class vessels to the Philippines as part of broader efforts to boost the defense capabilities of like-minded neighbors amid growing Chinese military assertiveness in the region.
Koshien’s dark summer forces reckoning for high school baseball
Koryo High School players greet their cheering section after beating Hokkaido’s Asahikawa Shiho in the first round of Summer Koshien on Aug. 7. The school withdrew three days later as a bullying scandal enveloped the team.
Akazawa's trip to Washington for tariff talks abruptly canceled
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, had been set to fly to Washington on Thursday.
Can anime carry the memories of World War II?
Many schools in Japan show "Grave of the Fireflies" as educational material to tell the emotionally grueling story of a boy who has no means to prevent his sister from starving to death.
Confusion over Japan’s ‘hometown’ plan overshadows African development event
First Lady Yoshiko Ishiba (center, in white and blue dress) hosts an event on Japanese culture with the first ladies of African leaders on the sidelines of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Yokohama on Aug. 21.
Mitsubishi’s wind-power retreat a blow to Japan's alternative-energy goals
Wind turbines in the town of Happo in Akita prefecture. Wind power is a key part of Japan's alternative energy drive.
Virtual singer Kaf's music becomes magic in 'Kamitsubaki City Under Construction'
Virtual singer Kaf got her start in 2018 by posting songs and covers to YouTube. Now, after having performed live shows at major venues including Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan, she is turning to voice acting and starring in the new anime series “Kamitsubaki City Under Construction.”
Can anime carry the memories of World War II?
Many schools in Japan show "Grave of the Fireflies" as educational material to tell the emotionally grueling story of a boy who has no means to prevent his sister from starving to death.
In pictures: Koenji Awa Odori 2025
Japan Times
Koshien’s dark summer forces reckoning for high school baseball
Koryo High School players greet their cheering section after beating Hokkaido’s Asahikawa Shiho in the first round of Summer Koshien on Aug. 7. The school withdrew three days later as a bullying scandal enveloped the team.

Podcast

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

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past
By Alex K.T. Martin

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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