The following is an announcement from Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO) regarding the restarting of a nuclear reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power station in northern Japan. All the reactors had been shut down following the failure of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on Japan’s northeastern coast after an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.
Nuclear power is getting more support these days around the globe as the need for electricity grows, and since nuclear plants generate electricity without carbon emissions.
https://www.tepco.co.jp/en/hd/newsroom/announcements/archives/2026/pdf/260121e0101.pdf
Announcement:
Reactor Startup of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station Unit 6
January 21, 2026Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc.
Today, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. received approval from the Nuclear Regulation Authority for the test use of the reactor in preparation to confirm the
integrity verifications of systems including the pre-operational operator inspection to be conducted after reactor startup.Preparations for the reactor startup have been underway since the submission of the pre-operational confirmation modification application on December 24, 2025. At 7:02
p.m. today, the control rods were withdrawn thereby initiating reactor startup.We shall move forward with verifying the integrity of the plant facilities underconditions that use actual steam and carefully cooperate with inspections conducted by
the Nuclear Regulation Authority.
As it has been approximately 14 years since the power station was in operation, we will carefully verify the integrity of each and every plant facility while suitably addressing
any issues that arise and conveying information to the public during each step of the startup process.We remain fully committed to demonstrating through actions and results that we are prioritizing safety at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station.
End of announcement
