CUJ has a long history of opposing nuclear power and nuclear weapons: The two issues are related. In our latest issue of our monthly newsletter, we dive deep into this. Please support us.
Official approval for restarting nuclear power plants continues. In January 2026, Tokyo Electric Power Company, responsible for the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, restarted the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata Prefecture. The governor of Hokkaido has also expressed consent for restarting the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant.
Why must nuclear plants be restarted at all?
Fifteen years ago, an accident that caused widespread radiation exposure led many citizens to desire an end to nuclear power. Back then, all political parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party, had at one point pledged policies to at least reduce dependence on nuclear power. Contrary to the wishes of citizens, a national policy is now advancing that seeks to prolong the life of old nuclear plants, even at the cost of the natural environment and human lives.
Video about our latest issue of Consumers Report, with a focus on nuclear issues:
1) Campaign to get 12 supermarket chains to not sell genome-edited tomatoes
In December 2020, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare accepted a notification concerning the sale of high-GABA tomatoes (Sanatech Seed’s “Sicilian Rouge High GABA”), which is Japan’s first genome-edited food product.
We, as consumers, are concerned about the market circulation of this genetically manipulated genome-edited food. This is because the government made the notification of genome-edited organisms voluntary, failed to assess environmental impacts or food safety, and did not mandate labelling.
As there is currently no labelling requirement, we consumers cannot distinguish whether a product is genome-edited or not. If this situation continues, we must feel uneasy about all tomatoes and tomato products. Furthermore, selling products without labelling them as genome-edited foods infringes upon consumers’ rights to know and choose. Therefore, we request that retail companies refrain from selling genome-edited crops and inquire about their sales policies.
Photo: 3 December 2025: Label It! Genome-Edited Foods – Let’s Make Our Voices Heard from Local Communities to the Nation
2) Food labelling campaign
We held a rally and meeting on 3 December 2025 requesting mandatory labelling of genome-edited foods: ‘Label It! Genome-Edited Foods – Let’s Make Our Voices Heard from Local Communities to the Nation’ Citizens’ Assembly. It was held in-person at the Japanese Parliament in Tokyo and online. Speakers included councillors from local governments that have adopted statements calling for genome-editing labelling in many cities around Japan.
Ten Genome-edited foods are now approved and becoming available for sale one after another. Processed foods (tomato purée and dried tomatoes) are also being sold. Fish varieties including pufferfish, sea bream, flounder, and tilapia are being sold or are approved for sale, alongside imported crops such as maize and potatoes.
When genetically modified foods first appeared in 1996, there was also no labelling. Consequently, consumers across Japan lobbied their local prefectural and municipal assemblies, compelling them to pass resolutions demanding labelling from the national government. Many local authorities adopted ‘Opinion Papers Demanding Labelling of Genetically Modified Foods’ and submitted them to the government and Parliament. This pressure moved the government, leading to the establishment of the current mandatory GM food labelling system. Though each of us individually may be small, by pooling our strength we can move the nation.
Update: Local councils are increasingly adopting opnion statements calling for the labeling of genome-edited foods. On 16 December 2025, the municipal assembly of Fuchu City, Tokyo; on 17/12, Ishikari Town, Hokkaido; on 18/12, Shiraoka City, Saitama Pref.; on 22/12, Koshimizu City, Hokkaido; on 24/12, Kawagoe City, Saitama Pref. and Aomori City, Aomori Pref. adopted such opinion statements. A total of six prefectural assemblies, including Aichi Pref., and 27 municipal assemblies, including Sapporo City, Hokkaido, have adopted similar opinion statements.
The Biotech Information Promotion Committee conducted a survey in October 2025 with the aim of understanding consumer awareness of Genetically modified foods and raising awareness of its acceptance. In addition, they investigated the awareness of genome-edited crops and fish, which began distribution in 2021.
Survey method: Internet survey (quantitative survey) ・Target: 2,000 men and women in their 20s to 50s nationwide (each gender and age × 250 samples) ・Research period: Late October, 2025
Regarding genome-edited foods, 58.2% of the total respondents said they did not know at all, and only 9.1% of those who understood the contents were. The majority of respondents in their 20s to 50s answered that they do not know at all, and it was found that knowledge about genome-edited foods was not widely disseminated regardless of age. In addition, 51.2% of the total respondents said they did not know at all, and the recognition was not widespread compared to the previous survey results (2021).
On 4 January 2026 the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced a policy prohibiting the implantation of fertilised eggs created using genome editing technology – which enables genetic modification – into human wombs, with penalties for violations. They are considering enacting new legislation to regulate the birth of genome-edited children, termed ‘genome-edited babies’.
1 December, 2025: Emergency Statement: We Protest the Approval of Restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant and Demanding Its Withdrawal in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Consumers Union of Japan Protest the Approval of the Restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant:
On 21 November 2025, the Governor of Niigata announced his approval for the restart of the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant. The Niigata Prefectural Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the Prefectural Assembly, decided to endorse the Governor’s decision. However, a public opinion survey conducted by Niigata Prefecture in September found that 60% of residents responded that “conditions for restarting are not in place.” The decision disregarded the survey results and appears to have been predetermined from the outset.
TEPCO not only caused the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 by neglecting safety measures, but has also repeatedly engaged in accident cover-ups and rule violations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. It is difficult to believe they possess the qualifications to operate nuclear power plants.
Furthermore, Niigata Prefecture is one of Japan’s most earthquake-prone regions, having experienced the 1964 Niigata Earthquake and the 2004 Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake.
Should a major earthquake strike in the dead of winter, as occurred with the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on in January 2024, heavy snowfall would severely hamper both evacuation and rescue efforts. As demonstrated by the magnitude 5.5 earthquake that struck the Aso region of Kyushu, installing nuclear power plants anywhere in earthquake-prone Japan is inherently dangerous.
Governor approval of restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, disregarding the widespread concerns of residents and others who oppose it, is absolutely unacceptable. Consumers Union of Japan strongly protests and demands its immediate withdrawal.
Statement of Protest Against the U.S. Declaration to Resume Nuclear Testing
Joint Statement Sent to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, and 10 ASEAN Countries
50th Anniversary of Peace in Vietnam
Booklet: Sayonara, Food Additives
Calling for Measures to Address Fragrance Pollution Affecting Children: New Survey Reveals Extent of Health Issues
Tabekime Campaign Update
From the Editors:
This issue of Japan Resources is published as usual on our English website as a pdf file. We also send it out on a mailing list to those who have shared their email address with us.
Did you know that Consumers Union of Japan also has an “X” account that you can subscribe to?
Since starting the English newsletter in the 1980s we have been making efforts to reach out to activists and colleagues around the world.
Back before the Internet, Japan Resources was a paper newsletter, mostly with photocopied articles and items of interest, as consumers share many of the same concerns around the world.
We hope you will also take advantage of our new online feature to contribute to Consumers Union of Japan, which makes it easy to make a financial donation online, and support our work. – Editors
Statement of Protest Against the U.S. Declaration to Resume Nuclear Testing
14 November 2025
To: The Embassy of the United States of America
From: Consumers Union of Japan
We are a Japanese citizens’ non governmental organization (NGO). As citizens of a nation that has suffered atomic bombings, we strongly protest President Trump’s declaration to resume nuclear testing.
Nuclear weapons are inhumane weapons that not only cause massive destruction but also inflict prolonged suffering on countless victims. Nuclear testing is an act that leads to the development and proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the United States of America has signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. President Trump’s claim that China, Russia, and Pakistan are conducting nuclear tests is false; North Korea is the only country that has conducted nuclear tests in recent years.
Some countries possess nuclear arsenals large enough to destroy humanity multiple times over. Nuclear weapons must be abolished without delay. What your country must do is take the lead in advancing the path toward nuclear abolition. We strongly demand the withdrawal of President Trump’s remarks, which turn their back on peace.
