Introduction

This chapter introduces the resilience puzzle of variation in energy system change aftershocks occur. It describes this book’s examination of how catastrophic events and stakeholder relationships affect one another, and their combined influence on energy transitions, resilience, and innovation. Introducing Japan as a case study, the chapter provides a brief overview of three sets of shocks to Japan’s energy system: the 1970s oil crises, a series of accidents and a scandal that occurred in the 1990s-2000s, and the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. The chapter introduces factors the book will analyze: the conflict/cooperation axis of the Japanese government’s relationships with electric utilities and the public; Japanese public, government, and utility clout; and alignment or divergence of these groups’ resilience priorities and risk perceptions. Electricity market liberalization and global climate change are mentioned as additional drivers.