Orano has been contracted to carry out preparatory work for the transport of 731 used fuel assemblies from the Fugen experimental Advanced Thermal Reactor (ATR) in Japan to France for reprocessing.

A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between Japan and the USA to "promote the global leadership role" of the two countries in civil nuclear energy.

Japan has made significant progress in decommissioning the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, but many challenges remain, a mission by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has concluded.

Toshiba Corp is withdrawing from its nuclear new-build project in the UK and plans to wind up NuGeneration, its board of directors decided at a meeting today.

Japan Atomic Power Company has received regulatory approval of an extension to the operating period of unit 2 at its Tokai nuclear power plant, enabling the reactor to operate for up to 60 years.

The Hiroshima District Court has rejected a call from residents to re-impose an injunction on the operation of unit 3 at the Ikata nuclear power plant in Japan's Ehime Prefecture. The move clears the way for owner Shikoku Electric Power Company to restart the reactor.

Unit 1 of the Onagawa nuclear power plant in Japan's Miyagi Prefecture is to be decommissioned after owner Tohoku Electric Power Company decided that safety upgrades required to restart it would be too expensive and time-consuming.

A decommissioning plan for unit 2 of the Ikata nuclear power plant in Japan's Ehime prefecture has been submitted to the country's nuclear regulator by plant owner Shikoku Electric Power Company.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority yesterday approved the restart of unit 2 of the Tokai nuclear power plant after concluding that safety measures submitted by Japan Atomic Power Company passed revised safety standards.

UPDATED 28 September: Shikoku Electric Power Company expects unit 3 of its Ikata nuclear power plant in Japan's Ehime Prefecture to resume power generation by the end of next month following a high court decision to overturn an injunction imposed last December.

Completion of the Ohma nuclear power plant, under construction in Japan's Aomori prefecture, will be delayed by a further two years owing to the regulator's ongoing review of enhanced safety measures at the plant.

Work has started to remove fuel assemblies from a sodium-filled storage tank at the Monju prototype fast breeder reactor, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency has announced. Once all these assemblies have been placed in a water-filled pool, removal of assemblies from the reactor itself will begin.