An International Atomic Energy Agency task force reviewing the safety of Japan's plan to discharge treated water from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea has released its fourth report. The report compiles the findings from the task force's second safety review mission to Japan, held in November 2022.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories has signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese company Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd to partner on the delivery of technical services to support the growing international fusion reactor market, with a key focus on testing related to tritium.

A collaboration agreement has been signed between Japan's Kyoto Fusioneering and the UK Atomic Energy Authority to develop fusion related technologies. The first project under the collaboration will be the development of a 'fusion-grade' silicon carbide composite system. 

For the first time since the March 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, the majority of respondents in an annual survey conducted by the Asahi Shimbun are in favour of Japan's nuclear power reactors being restarted. Rising energy costs following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was a factor that influenced their opinion.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has approved draft legislation to extend the operating life of the country's nuclear power reactors beyond 60 years. It also approved an amendment to the Nuclear Reactor Regulation Law to remove the rule specifying the operational periods of reactors.

Japan's Cabinet has approved a policy to allow new nuclear power reactors to be constructed and the operation of existing reactors to be extended from 40 to 60 years.

A research programme into the safety of fast reactor fuel that has been suspended since the 1990s will resume with tests due to begin at Idaho National Laboratory next month.
 

Tokamak Energy has signed an agreement with Japan's Furukawa Electric to supply "several hundred kilometres" of specialist high temperature superconducting tape for its ST80-HTS prototype fusion device.

The two countries plan to work together on the development and construction of next-generation advanced reactors including small modular reactors, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura and US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said after meeting in Washington DC.

Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited has announced that it now expects the reprocessing plant under construction at Rokkasho in Japan's Aomori Prefecture to begin commercial operation in 2024 instead of 2022, as had been previously scheduled.

The Japanese government has adopted a plan to extend the operation of existing nuclear power reactors and replace aging facilities with new advanced ones. The move is part of a policy that addresses global fuel shortages following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and seeks to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has approved a draft of a new rule that would allow the country's nuclear power reactors to be operated for more than the current limit of 60 years. The amendment will require parliamentary approval.