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.