Japan took the final step to allow the world's largest nuclear power plant to resume operations with a regional vote on Monday (December 22), a watershed moment in the country's return to nuclear energy nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster.

Around 300 protesters gathered outside the Niigata assembly on Monday and stood in the cold holding banners reading 'No Nukes', 'We oppose the restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa' and 'Support Fukushima’.

Chanting slogans with the crowd was Ayako Oga, who settled in Niigata after fleeing the area around the Fukushima plant in 2011 with 160,000 other evacuees. Her former home was inside the 20 km irradiated exclusion zone.

“I honestly feel terrified by the fact that people who have already suffered mental, physical, and economic damage due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster may face the risk of experiencing another nuclear accident,” said the 52-year-old farmer, adding that she still struggles with post-traumatic stress-like symptoms from what happened at Fukushima.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, located about 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tokyo, was among 54 reactors shut after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima Daiichi plant in the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.

TEPCO is considering reactivating the first of seven reactors at the plant on January 20, public broadcaster NHK reported.

TEPCO earlier this year pledged to inject 100 billion yen ($641 million) into the prefecture over the next 10 years as it sought to win the support of Niigata residents.

But a survey published by the prefecture in October found 60% of residents did not think conditions for the restart had been met. Nearly 70% were worried about TEPCO operating the plant.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

NIIGATA, NIIGATA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (DECEMBER 22, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PROTESTERS CHANTING SLOGANS OUTSIDE NIIGATA PREFECTURE’S ASSEMBLY

2. PROTESTERS CHANTING SLOGANS AND HOLDING BANNER READING (Japanese): “The decision on whether to restart (the nuclear power plant) or not, should be made by the local residents.”

3. PROTESTERS CHANGING (Japanese): “Do not forget the lessons of Fukushima (nuclear disaster)!”

4. PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARDS AND CLAPPING

5. PROTESTER AND EVACUEE FROM FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE, AYAKO OGA, SPEAKING

6. PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARDS AND BANNER

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 52-YEAR-OLD PROTESTER AND EVACUEE FROM FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE AFTER NUCLEAR DISASTER IN 2011, AYAKO OGA, SAYING:

“I honestly feel terrified by the fact that people who have already suffered mental, physical, and economic damage due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster may face the risk of experiencing another nuclear accident.”

8. PROTESTERS STANDING ALONG ROAD AND HOLDING BANNERS AND PLACARDS

9. PLACARD READING (English): “NO NUKUES (NUKES)”

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 52-YEAR-OLD PROTESTER AND EVACUEE FROM FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE AFTER NUCLEAR DISASTER IN 2011, AYAKO OGA, SAYING:

“I think it cannot be emphasized enough that the risk of radioactive contamination exists as long as nuclear power plants are in operation.”

11. PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNER READING (Japanese and English): “NUCLEAR POWER ZERO / OPPOSED TO RESTART / SUPPORT FUKUSHIMA / NO NUKUES (NUKES)”

12. PEOPLE HOLDING PLACARDS AT PROTEST

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 52-YEAR-OLD PROTESTER AND EVACUEE FROM FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE AFTER NUCLEAR DISASTER IN 2011, AYAKO OGA, SAYING:

“As a victim of the Fukushima nuclear accident, I wish that no one, whether in Japan or anywhere in the world, ever again suffers the consequences of a nuclear accident.”

14. EXTERIOR OF NIIGATA PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING

15. SIGN READING (Japanese): “Niigata Prefectural Government”

16. VARIOUS OF LAWMAKERS ATTENDING PARLIAMENTARY SESSION

17. STAFF HOLDING BOARD READING (Japanese): “Silence please”

18. PARLIAMENTARY SESSION IN PROGRESS AS VOICES OF OPPOSITION CAN BE HEARD SHOUTED OUT

19. STAFF STANDING NEXT TO PUBLIC PARTICIPANTS WITH BOARD (Japanese): "Silence please"

KASHIWAZAKI, NIIGATA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (DECEMBER 21, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

20. VARIOUS OF WAVES HITTING SHORELINE NEXT TO KASHIWAZAKI-KARIWA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

21. SURFER CARRYING SURFBOARD AND WALKING ON BEACH NEXT TO NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 18, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

22. TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER CO (TEPCO) RISK COMMUNICATOR-SPOKESPERSON MASAKATSU TAKADA SPEAKING DURING INTERVIEW

23. TEPCO BADGE ON TAKADA’S UNIFORM

24. TAKADA SPEAKING

25. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TEPCO RISK COMMUNICATOR-SPOKESPERSON, MASAKATSU TAKADA, SAYING:

“Our company has maintained a strong determination never to allow an accident like the one at Fukushima Daiichi to happen again. We also firmly believe that the people of Niigata should never have to experience anything like that. Therefore, by clearly communicating the safety measures we are implementing, we hope to convey not only those measures but also our commitment and resolve.”

26. TAKADA SPEAKING

27. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TEPCO RISK COMMUNICATOR-SPOKESPERSON, MASAKATSU TAKADA, SAYING:

“In order to fulfill our responsibility of ensuring a stable energy supply, we believe that restarting Unit 6 of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa (nuclear plant) is highly significant. Furthermore, it also carries great importance in terms of contributing to carbon neutrality. Taking these factors into account, our company is committed to fulfilling our responsibility to Fukushima and to thoroughly carrying out the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi.”

KASHIWAZAKI, NIIGATA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (DECEMBER 21, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

28. VARIOUS OF WAVES AND KASHIWAZAKI-KARIWA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

29. VARIOUS OF WAVES HITTING BREAKWATER