Support for the restart of Japanese reactors reaches an all-time high, according to poll

It's official: the tide has turned in Japan's nuclear energy debate! For the first time in over a decade, a majority of respondents in the Asahi Shimbun's annual survey are clamouring for the country's nuclear power plants to be restarted. And the reason for this seismic shift in public opinion? Look no further than the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has caused energy costs to skyrocket and forced the Japanese to rethink their energy policies.

Tokyo Electric Power Company is awaiting regulatory approval to restart units 6 and 7 at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant (Image: Tepco)

In the Asahi Shimbun's latest survey, a whopping 51% of respondents voiced their support for resuming operations at the country's nuclear reactors. This marks a significant departure from the past, when only about 30% of respondents expressed their backing for nuclear energy. The remaining 42% of respondents, meanwhile, felt that it was best for the reactors to remain offline.

It's worth noting that the poll was conducted via national telephone survey, with 1181 randomly-selected individuals taking part on February 18-19. This latest data is part of a larger trend: since 2013, the majority of Japanese citizens were against restarting the reactors, with only 50-60% of respondents opposing. But that all changed in 2022, when a sizeable 38% were in favour of the move, compared to 47% who were opposed.

(Image: Asahi Shimbun)

This shift in public opinion is a game-changer for Japan's energy future. Will the government take note of the people's views and make a bold move towards nuclear energy, or will they hold back? Only time will tell. One thing's for sure, though: the debate is far from over!

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