In a move sparking heated debate, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) fired up Reactor No. 6 at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant this Wednesday – its first nuclear restart since the 2011 Fukushima disaster shook global confidence in atomic energy. 🔥
The Niigata Prefecture facility, located 220km northwest of Tokyo, began trial operations after last-minute technical delays. While officials emphasize strict safety checks, local residents remain divided: "It's like watching someone light a match near old dynamite," one protester told reporters outside the plant gates.
This comes 15 years after Fukushima's meltdowns forced Japan to shutter 54 reactors nationwide. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant alone could power 8 million homes at full capacity – crucial for a nation racing to meet 2030 climate goals. 🌱⚡
Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi approved the controversial restart last November, with final assembly approval following in December 2025. TEPCO claims the reactor meets "the world's toughest safety standards," but for many, the ghost of Fukushima still looms large.
