Japan’s Atomic Turnaround

By Iain MacIntyre

Japan’s nuclear reset is underway, and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s backing of reactor restarts and next-generation technology is setting the stage for a surge in breakbulk and heavy-lift demand.

From Issue 1, 2026 of Breakbulk Magazine

(5-minute read)

Newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has moved to carry forward her predecessor’s shift in nuclear energy policy, which is expected to include ongoing reactor restarts alongside plans for new plants.

Signaling a major opportunity for the breakbulk and project cargo sectors, the transition comes as Japan is again seeking greater domestic generation of its energy needs, with the government now targeting 20% of electricity generation from nuclear by 2040.

Henry Preston, external communication and media manager at the World Nuclear Association, said 14 of Japan’s 33 reactors have restarted since the Fukushima Daiichi accident in 2011, with the first two resuming operations in August and October 2015.

Since then, 12 additional reactors have returned to service, and 11 more operable units are progressing through the restart approval process. Two reactors still under construction, Ohma and Shimane 3, have also applied for permission to operate.

“In total, 18 reactors have passed the regulator’s safety screenings,” Preston said. “The latest, Tomari Unit 3, now only requires approval from local governments before it can restart.”

Nuclear energy currently supplies about 7% of Japan’s electricity. Before Fukushima, the figure was nearly 30%, and government planning at the time envisioned increasing nuclear’s share to 41% by 2017 and 50% by 2030.

“The government has approved both the construction of new reactors and the life-extension of existing units from 40 to 60 years,” Preston said. “Japan is committed to continuing rigorous safety reviews to restart as many reactors as possible, and if they cannot restart enough, additional new reactors will be needed.”

Path Back to Nuclear

Japan is “definitely” examining how it can resume nuclear energy generation after being faced with the challenge of ensuring long-term, sovereign, baseload power for its needs, particularly given the increasing demands of the technology industry, said James Walker, CEO of NANO Nuclear.

“It’s possible that several of those 19 reactors could return to operation but Japan’s post-Fukushima regulations are among the most stringent in the world and the local approval process can be slow and unpredictable,” he said.

“This could actually mean gravitation towards more advanced reactor systems which eliminate the possibility of accident scenarios like Fukushima, easing the regulatory pathway and approvals. We’ll see a selective revival rather than a blanket restart of the existing fleet of reactors, with timelines stretching across the rest of this decade. But, like the rest of the world, a transition to more modern reactors seems inevitable.”

Although noting the Takaichi administration’s priority for plant restarts, Koichi Kaizu, a logistics subject matter expert for module transportation at JGC Corporation, agrees that given “strict safety reviews and local consent” hurdles, a full restart is “unlikely.”

Still, Kaizu notes isolated signs of political momentum. “Recently, the governor of Niigata prefecture announced his support for restarting Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, signaling that restarts are possible even under stringent post- Fukushima regulations,” he said.

Fission Over Fusion

Noting the advancement of next-generation commercialization of fusion reactors is not expected until at least into the 2040s, Kaizu also sees a mix of existing and new fission plants as being the “most realistic” option for long-term nuclear energy generation in Japan.

Walker describes fusion as “inspiring and worth pursuing long-term,” but says the technology “is still quite speculative” and not yet ready for commercial power generation.

“What’s more realistic in the near term are new builds of advanced fission technologies — small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors that are safer, faster to deploy, and better suited to Japan’s geography. Japan’s approach will likely blend restarts of proven plants with pilot projects for these next-generation systems, setting the stage for gradual expansion rather than a dramatic overnight shift.”

He notes that refurbishments and restarts can move relatively faster, typically within a few years, compared with longer-term newbuilds. “But they still involve extensive safety work and local consultation.

“Even with modular construction and factory fabrication, you’re still looking at complex coordination across supply chains, ports and heavy-lift logistics. The difference is that once the first few modular units are licensed and standardized, deployment speed increases dramatically.”

Preston observes that extending the operational life of existing reactors is an “even quicker route to bolstering capacity,” given such plants are already operating to current standards. Although, he notes that Japan tends to better the average five-to-six years required to construct new reactors in Asia.

“For example, the Japanese reactors constructed in the ‘90s and ‘00s took between three and five years. The first next-generation reactors could require ten or more years due to design, regulatory approval and supply chain coordination.”

Logistics Gains Ahead

Regardless of such specifics, Japan’s reignited nuclear energy policy is expected to create significant opportunities for the specialized logistics sector, “including modular components and heavy-lift transport,” Preston said.

“Japan has a strong domestic supply chain, while China, South Korea, the U.S. and European countries are expected to play key roles in advanced technologies and modular construction logistics.”

Walker predicts Japan will source from its domestic heavy industry for civil nuclear components, South Korea and Japan for large-scale modules and the U.S. and UK for advanced reactor designs, controls and HALEU [High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium] fuel technologies.

“European firms remain leaders in certain large components and engineering, while U.S. vendors are strong on SMR designs, digital controls and enriched-fuel supply chain elements as that capacity rebuilds.

“A modularization approach will be adopted for constructing new plants. Due to technology sensitivities and the need for strict confidentiality, only a limited number of countries, such as the U.S. and those in the European Union, will participate in the equipment supply chain, including module assembly,” Kaizu said.

Kaizu also sees scope for international joint ventures. “Japan is strengthening its cooperation framework with the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] and the U.S. While safety and quality remain prerequisites, I believe there is strong potential for joint ventures in next-generation reactors and nuclear fusion.”

Japan has “always been pragmatic” about partnerships when the technology and safety culture align, concurs Walker. “If a foreign company brings proven capability, transparency and respect for Japan’s regulatory process, they’ll find willing collaborators. Joint ventures are the logical way forward here. They spread cost, accelerate innovation and bring credibility. What matters most to Japan is reliability and trust, not nationality.”

“Japan has a track record of successful international partnerships,” Preston said, pointing to the example of the work of GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy which blends U.S. and Japanese expertise across the energy sector. “While collaboration with overseas partners has been a stable part of decommissioning, there will likely be further opportunities on advanced reactors and supply chain development.”

Barriers to Overcome

Although describing Japan’s ports and transport networks as “highly developed,” Preston believes a “scale-up” will be required. “Large modular components will require specialized contractors and coordination. This is an area where international expertise may complement domestic capabilities.”

Similarly, Walker observes that while Japan has “excellent ports and a world-class logistics industry,” nuclear modular programs will “stress” current capabilities, including in the areas of secure transport lanes and heavy-lift quayside infrastructure.

“Some upgrades and dedicated staging facilities will be needed, plus tighter coordination with local authorities for secure and timely moves. In short, the baseline capacity exists, but targeted investments and planning will be necessary to scale smoothly.”

Kaizu also sees regulatory approval and local consent as potential hurdles. “Apart from that, Japan has yet to finalize the detailed plan for high-level radioactive waste disposal, this would be another significant long-term challenge for us.”

Walker says “regulatory predictability” is another necessity. “Because even strong safety standards need efficiency and clarity, otherwise projects stall. Then there’s the supply chain, particularly for HALEU fuel and advanced materials, which remains thin globally. Japan also faces unique seismic and geographic constraints, so site selection and engineering must be conservative.

“But none of these are insurmountable. They just require planning, partnership and steady policy support.”

Preston predicts that the nuclear industry globally will face challenges in sourcing specialized equipment, materials and skills as it looks to expand rapidly. He adds that while there are ongoing efforts to streamline and harmonize regulation and supply chains, concerns about bottlenecks are not expected to impact current construction plans.

Managing Public Concerns

Emphasizing the “rigorous” safety reviews and reactor upgrades now required to meet new regulatory standards, Preston states that “transparent communication about this process is helping to regain trust.

“It should be noted that there were no fatalities due to radiation from Fukushima Daiichi. Studies have suggested the nuclear shut down has done more harm than good, as the country has experienced significant increases in fossil fuel imports and trade deficits when nuclear plants were offline.

“So, despite understandable concerns following the accident, there is also an understanding reflected by the recent government policy that nuclear is essential for providing clean, reliable, economical and secure energy for Japan.”

Walker acknowledges that the memory of Fukushima “runs deep,” saying: “Public sentiment will always matter and rightly so. Any large-scale restart or newbuild will require trust, transparency and local involvement.

“The difference now is that newer reactor designs fundamentally eliminate the conditions that caused the Fukushima accident. They’re smaller, passively safe and can’t meltdown in the same way. Over time, that will help rebuild public confidence, especially if Japan communicates clearly and moves carefully.”

“Society remains highly sensitive to any incident, near miss or operational issue, which could easily influence government policy on nuclear energy,” Kaizu said. “I believe this social sensitivity is a major challenge to securing a long-term vision for nuclear power.”

Breakbulk Asia is happening on 18-19 November 2026 in Singapore.

TOP Photo: NEK installations

Second: James Walker

Third: Koichi Kaizu