Since 3/11, Japan has made significant progress in revamping its energy economy and related policies. It has undertaken these revisions in the face of considerable geographical, geopolitical and other challenges. Its performance in decarbonizing its energy economy is hardly adequate, especially in light of accelerating climate change. However, it continues to build a paradigm that leads through adaptation, and thus reduces the capacity of vested interests, NIMBY and inertia to stymie the diffusion of clean energy.