As of June 5, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) proposed rebuilding two to five aging nuclear reactors by the 2040s, potentially 11 to 14 by the 2050s to maintain a stable electricity supply as existing reactors reach the end of their operating lives. [1] The proposal, presented at a government nuclear policy meeting, would add roughly 16 gigawatts of generating capacity and represents the first time the Japanese government has established concrete long-term reactor replacement targets. The proposal reflects Japan’s broader shift toward maximizing nuclear power use following revisions to its national energy strategy. After the 2011 Fukushima accident, all 54 reactors were shut down; today, only 15 of the 33 operable units have resumed operation. At the same time, many reactors are approaching or exceeding the 60-year operating threshold, raising concerns that restarts alone will be insufficient to sustain nuclear generation over the long term. Under Japan’s current energy plan, nuclear power is expected to provide around 20% of the country’s electricity by fiscal 2040, roughly double its recent share. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has strongly supported expanded nuclear generation as a means of strengthening energy security and reducing dependence on imported coal, liquefied natural gas, and oil, which still account for most of Japan’s electricity production.

[1] https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/enecho/denryoku_gas/genshiryoku/049.html