Key Facts
• Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi announced decision timing on September 3, 2025.
• Decision on Tokyo Electric Power’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant restart expected post-October 2025.
• Final decision hinges on public opinion survey results due late October 2025.
• Survey targets 12,000 residents with 11 questions on nuclear safety and necessity.
• Survey forms sent September 3, with interim report in September and final analysis in October.
• Tokyo Electric Power aims for restart but lacks local consent since Fukushima disaster.
• All other preparatory measures for decision-making have been completed.
• December 2025 Niigata Prefectural Assembly may play a key role in final discussions.
Summary
Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi announced that the decision on restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant will be made after October 2025. The decision will rely on the results of a public opinion survey involving 12,000 residents, focusing on nuclear safety, necessity, and disaster preparedness. Survey forms were distributed on September 3, with interim findings expected in September and final analysis by late October. Tokyo Electric Power has been seeking to restart the plant but has faced challenges in securing local consent following the Fukushima disaster. With all other preparatory measures completed, the December 2025 Niigata Prefectural Assembly is expected to be a pivotal moment in the decision-making process.
