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Story summary
- Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant will restart on January 21, 2026, its first operation since 2011.
- The governor of Niigata Prefecture approved the resumption.
- Public opinion is divided, with about 60 percent opposing the restart and nearly 40,000 signing a petition.
- Protests occurred near the plant over safety concerns, including evacuation plans and seismic risks.
- Japan aims to raise nuclear energy's share to 20 percent by 2040, despite Fukushima decommissioning.
