ABSTRACT
This chapter describes how a series of nuclear accidents and a data falsification scandal combined with the Japanese government’s relationships with the electric utilities and the public to influence Japanese energy policy, the policymaking process, and energy system resilience. The analysis examines the roles of resilience priorities and risk perceptions, as well as climate change as an emerging driver. Employing interview data, public opinion polls and government documents, the chapter explains why the accidents and scandal generated few changes to Japan’s energy policy or the policymaking process, contributing only to a superficial change in the safety regulation structure, as well as the introduction of economic regulatory change. The data reflect rising conflict within the government, and between utilities and regulators, as well as increasing utility clout, with a backdrop of divergent economic and engineering/ecological resilience priorities. These factors combined to perpetuate nuclear power expansion, incentives for energy efficiency and energy conservation, increased natural gas and coal use, and continued constraints on renewables growth. This segment of Japan’s narrative offers lessons for resilience thinking, transparency and communication, and regulatory frameworks.
