ABSTRACT
Japan experienced a reactor explosion catastrophe, and its aftermath, at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011. Following the event, both developed and developing nations reconsidered the adoption and expansion of nuclear power after a decade of nuclear renaissance. However, the Japanese government remained steadfast on energy issues, particularly during Prime Minister Abe’s tenure between 2012 and 2020. The overwhelming majority of reactors are yet to restart even though Abe’s national energy policy positions nuclear as the primary baseload source. Renewable energy options have not been explored as vigorously as they could be. In the end, 75.7% of electricity was from fossil fuel sources in 2019. Why has Japan not been able to transition to renewable electricity generation sources even though it experienced a terrible nuclear accident? Why did it miss an opportunity to transition to renewable sources? This chapter will review the development of Japan’s national energy policy between 2011 and 2020 and identify the political arrangements that blocked the policy window from opening.
