Tokyo Electric Power Company has begun removing the panels of the temporary cover over the damaged reactor building of unit 1 at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The municipal government of the Japanese town of Satsumasendai has given its approval for the restart of the nearby Sendai nuclear power plant. Approval is still required from the regulator, as well as the prefectural and national governments before the plant can begin operating again.

The municipal government of the Japanese town of Satsumasendai has given its approval for the restart of the nearby Sendai nuclear power plant. Approval is still required from the regulator, as well as the prefectural and national governments before the plant can begin operating again.

Japan's first reactor restart is moving to the end of the regulatory phase. Kyushu Electric Power Company has now submitted all the documentation to restart Sendai units 1 and 2 and a final decision lies with the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

Testing of a new high-performance water decontamination system has started at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. When in full operation, the new system should increase water treatment capacity while significantly reducing the volume of waste generated.

A nuclear risk research centre has been established in Japan to carry out research and development necessary for utilities to improve safety on their own initiative.

A formal cooperation agreement has been signed between Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) and the UK's Sellafield Ltd. It follows the earlier signing of an initial cooperation statement between the two companies.

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency will shut its reprocessing plant in Tokai, reportedly due to the costs of modifications required under post-Fukushima safety regulations.

Japan's nuclear regulator has approved changes in the reactor installations of units 1 and 2 of the Sendai nuclear power plant, moving the units one step closer to restarting.

Japan has selected three overseas companies to construct demonstration projects to verify the suitability of their technologies for removing tritium from contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

In her first week as Japan's minister for trade and industry, Yuko Obuchi has visited the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant to offer her support to workers there.

The prime ministers of India and Japan have welcomed the "significant progress" made in negotiating a nuclear cooperation agreement between the two countries, saying talks will be accelerated to conclude such a deal.