Japan Marks 15 Years Since Tsunami Disaster As Prime Minister Pushes More Nuclear Energy Use Japan commemorated the 15th anniversary of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster on its northeastern coast, with the government emphasizing its commitment to expanding nuclear energy use. The magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami on March 11, 2011, caused widespread devastation, resulting in over 22,000 deaths and displacing nearly half a million people. The disaster also triggered a catastrophic failure at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, leading to meltdowns in three reactors and ongoing challenges in managing radioactive contamination. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed the anniversary by pledging to accelerate recovery efforts in the affected regions and promote nuclear power as a reliable energy source. This marks a significant shift from Japan’s previous decade-long nuclear phase-out plan, which was reversed in 2022. Takaichi emphasized the need to reinforce lessons learned from the disaster, including the importance of nuclear energy in ensuring energy security. The Fukushima Daiichi plant, which lost power and cooling systems during the disaster, continues to face critical challenges. At least 880 tons of melted fuel debris remain within the damaged reactors, though detailed information about their condition is limited due to high radiation levels. Full-scale removal of the debris is expected to be delayed until 2037 or later. Efforts to address the crisis have included the gradual removal of spent fuel from the plant’s cooling pools, with work set to begin around 2027-2028. Recovery efforts in the region have made progress, with key infrastructure rebuilt.#japan #prime_minister_sanae_takaichi #fukushima_daiichi #tsunami_2011 #fukushima_prefecture
As Fukushima memories fade, Japan embraces a nuclear-powered future Takuma Hashimoto, now 18, recalls the day a massive earthquake and tsunami struck his hometown in 2011, triggering nuclear meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. At three years old, he and his family were trapped, unable to flee due to a lack of gas for their car. Today, Hashimoto, an engineering student in Iwaki, wants to become part of Japan’s next generation of nuclear talent. “I don’t think nuclear power should be treated as something that’s automatically dangerous,” he said, reflecting on the shift in public perception. His school, which organizes visits to nuclear plants, receives government funding to train workers in nuclear power, regulation, and decommissioning. Japan, once a global leader in nuclear energy, had nearly abandoned the technology after the 2011 disaster. The Fukushima crisis led to a dramatic shift in public opinion, with all reactors ordered to shut down for safety inspections. In 2012, the government decided to phase out nuclear energy, a policy reversed two years later. However, reactor restarts have been slow, with only 15 of 33 operable reactors back online as of 2026. The country’s reliance on costly imported fossil fuels, coupled with energy shortages and rising demand from AI data centers, has accelerated the push to revive nuclear power. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a staunch pro-nuclear leader, is pushing to accelerate reactor restarts and advance new technologies. The recent restart of one of the seven reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, the world’s largest nuclear facility, marked a milestone. Public support for nuclear restarts has grown steadily, with 51% of people now in favor, up from 28% in 2013. Young people aged 18 to 29 show the highest support, at 66%.#prime_minister_sanae_takaichi #fukushima_daiichi #takuma_hashimoto #iwaki #kashiwazaki_kariwa
