Oldest Takahama nuclear reactor put back online

Jul 29, 2023 | News On Japan

Jul 29, 2023 (NHK) - Japan's oldest nuclear power reactor went back online on Friday for the first time in 12 and half years.

Officials of Kansai Electric Power Company restarted the No. 1 reactor of the Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture at 3 p.m. by removing control rods.

The reactor had been offline since January 2011, when it ceased operation for a regular inspection. In 2016, it cleared screening under new government regulations put in place after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident.

The restart comes after the operator completed facilities for anti-terrorism measures and the government finished an inspection.

The No. 1 unit, which first started operation in 1974, is the oldest among Japan's remaining operable nuclear reactors.

The operational life span of nuclear reactors in the country has been limited to 40 years in principle. But a reactor can have its operational life extended to a maximum of 60 years, if it passes a screening by the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

The No. 1 unit became the second reactor that is over 40 years old to be put back online in Japan since the 2011 accident. The first is the Mihama nuclear power plant's No. 3 reactor which is also located in Fukui Prefecture.

The operator says, if everything goes well, the Takahama nuclear power plant's No.1 reactor will achieve a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction by early Saturday. The company hopes to begin generating and sending electricity as early as next Wednesday.

Source: Kyodo

Martinelli Breaks Japan Hearts as Brazil Win 2-1 in World Cup Thriller

Japan’s World Cup campaign ended in the cruelest possible fashion on June 29, as Gabriel Martinelli scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over the Samurai Blue in their knockout match in Houston. Japan had led in the first half and were still level at 1-1 in the final moments, but Martinelli’s late strike sent Brazil into the Round of 16 and eliminated Japan from the tournament.

Strong Quakes Strike Japan 11 Times Since April

Strong earthquakes have continued to shake parts of Japan in recent weeks, with 11 temblors measuring lower 5 or above on the Japanese seismic intensity scale recorded across the country since April 2026.

First Train of the Day Derails at Kintetsu Kyoto Station

A Kintetsu Railway train derailed inside Kyoto Station on the morning of June 29, forcing partial suspensions on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line for the rest of the day and causing long delays that hit commuters, students and tourists.

Hikone Castle Stone Wall Collapses After Typhoon Deluge

A section of stone wall at Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s few surviving original Edo-period castles and a National Treasure whose main keep remains intact more than 400 years after its construction, collapsed after heavy rain caused by Typhoons No. 7 and No. 8, Hikone city officials said.

Japan Books Spot in World Cup Knockout Stage After Sweden Draw

Japan advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Sweden on June 25, finishing second in Group F and setting up a Round of 32 clash with Brazil in Houston.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Japan to Launch First Pig Kidney Transplant Trial in Humans

Japan is set to begin its first clinical trial of xenotransplantation involving the transplant of pig kidneys into human patients, in a step that could open a new option for people with kidney failure.

First Approval for Heart Tissue Reuse in Japan

A new treatment that uses healthy tissue from the heart removed from a transplant patient and transplants it into another patient has been approved in Japan for the first time, with the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center preparing to carry out the procedure.

Four Key Dsip Peptide Benefits That Enhance Recovery

For those involved in medical research and biostatistics, understanding the intricacies of recovery processes is crucial.

Rare Look Inside Japan's Underground Gravity Wave Observatory

The KAGRA gravitational-wave research facility in Kamioka, Hida, Gifu Prefecture, was opened to the public on June 20 for the first special viewing in nine years, giving 200 visitors a rare chance to tour the underground observatory with Nobel laureate Takaaki Kajita.

Risk Of Major Mosquito Outbreak This Summer

Mosquitoes are appearing earlier than usual this year, raising fears of a major summer outbreak as experts warn that warm May weather and repeated light rain have created ideal breeding conditions across residential areas.

Fukuoka on Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease Alert

New cases of hand, foot and mouth disease in Fukuoka Prefecture remained at alert level for the third consecutive week, prompting the prefectural government to urge residents to take preventive measures against the infection, which spreads through droplets and physical contact.

New Opportunities in Specialized Light

A Japanese startup is seeking to transform manufacturing inspections with a world-first lighting technology that eliminates reflected light, making previously hidden defects, contaminants, and irregularities visible to the human eye.

4 Ways Japanese Tech is More Advanced Than Other Nations

You likely interact with Japanese innovation daily without realizing it. Walk through any modern facility, and you encounter systems where hardware and software fuse flawlessly.

< 2 3 4 5 >