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Japan's JT-60SA Experimental Team Advances Preparations for Next Operation Phase

Preparations for the next phase of JT-60SA experimental activities are underway. The technical team is carrying out integrated commissioning as planned, while the experimental team is simultaneously refining related tools and software to enhance scientific output capabilities for the next operation phase. During a training course organized by QST, EUROfusion participants are learning how to configure discharge settings using the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) in preparation for the next JT-60SA campaign. Image credit: QST. The Third JT-60SA Experimental Team Workshop was held from July 27 to 31, 2026, at the Naka Institute of the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) in Japan. Approximately 50 experts attended, including 20 representatives from Europe...

2026-08-26

Bitumen Solidification Facility at Unit 2 of Japan's Ikata Nuclear Power Plant Returns to Normal

Shikoku Electric Power Co. reported on August 25, 2026, that the bitumen solidification facility at Unit 2 of Japan's Ikata Nuclear Power Plant, currently in a decommissioned state, had returned to normal operation at 10:45 a.m. that day. The gasket at the joint of the mixer top cover, where the earlier abnormality had been detected, had been replaced, and trial operation results showed no abnormalities. The incident occurred on April 28. On that day, when operators started the bitumen solidification facility in the controlled area of the reactor auxiliary building, they observed a steam-like phenomenon near the mixer thermometer, which subsequently disappeared on its own. Maintenance personnel later inspected and confirmed at 3:05 p.m. that the steam-like gas originated from inside the mixer and had escaped through the joint of the mixer top cover; at 5:06 p.m., the bitumen solidification facility was shut down.

2026-08-26

Japan's Helical Fusion Publishes Research Results on High-Temperature Superconducting Magnets

Helical Fusion recently announced that its joint research on high-temperature superconducting magnets with the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) has passed peer review and been published in the Journal of Physics: Conference Series. The results, previously disclosed in a preliminary report, primarily validate the performance of high-temperature superconducting conductors for fusion reactor applications under strong magnetic fields and high currents. This study tested the UROCOIC high-temperature superconducting conductor independently developed by Helical Fusion. The research team fabricated the conductor into a double-pancake coil sample and used existing test equipment to simulate, as closely as possible, the magnetic field and current environment expected in future fusion reactors.

2026-08-26

Japan's Mihama Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 Receives Preliminary Approval for Operation Plan Beyond 50 Years

On August 25, Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) gave preliminary approval to Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) for the long-term facility management plan for Unit 3 of the Mihama Nuclear Power Plant. Located in Mihama Town, Fukui Prefecture, the unit will mark its 50th anniversary of commercial operation on December 1. In May of this year, the metal top cover of the high-pressure turbine at Mihama Unit 3 suffered damage, resulting in steam leakage. At the NRA meeting held that day, KEPCO explained that the cause of the incident was believed to be thinning of the inner wall of the top cover due to steam flow. The company stated that this phenomenon falls under previously anticipated aging and degradation management for turbine equipment, and that the existing plan already includes corresponding management measures. Visual inspection and other examination methods were also deemed applicable, thus no revision to the long-term facility management plan was required.

2026-08-26

Japan Completes Cryogenic Test of World's Largest Superconducting Toroidal Field Coil for ITER

Japan's National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and Toshiba Corporation announced on August 25 that they had successfully completed the first cryogenic current test of the world's largest superconducting toroidal field coil at the construction site of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The test was conducted at an operating temperature of approximately minus 269 degrees Celsius, marking a critical technical milestone before ITER's commissioning. The superconducting toroidal field coil, also known as the TF coil, installed in the test facility is a key component of ITER's superconducting magnet system, used to generate the strong magnetic field required to confine plasma. During the test, the team cooled the coil from room temperature to cryogenic conditions, confirmed its transition to the superconducting state, and for the first time achieved stable conduction of 10,000 amperes of current while the coil was in the superconducting state.

2026-08-25

Japan to Use Fukushima Decontaminated Soil at Government Office Buildings in Sendai and Saitama

At a Cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office on August 25, the Japanese government decided to use decontaminated soil generated from the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident for flower beds and other areas at joint government office buildings in Sendai City and Saitama City. This will mark the first use of such recycled soil outside Tokyo. According to the plan, the relevant office buildings will use a total of approximately 2 cubic meters of low-radioactivity "reconstruction recycled soil," with the specific construction schedule still being coordinated. The usage site in Saitama City is located at the government joint office building in the Saitama New Urban Center area, and Sendai City will also implement similar arrangements at its joint government office building. Under Japanese law, soil decontaminated after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident must be transported outside Fukushima Prefecture for final disposal by March 2045. The Japanese government hopes that by first using such soil in public facilities, it can promote the final disposal work outside Fukushima Prefecture and enhance public understanding of the safety and necessity of such soil.

2026-08-25

Fukui Prefecture in Japan Likely to Approve KEPCO's Dry Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel

According to multiple officials of Fukui Prefecture, Japan, Governor Takato Ishida of Fukui Prefecture is expected to approve Kansai Electric Power Company's (KEPCO) construction of a dry storage facility for spent nuclear fuel at its nuclear power plants within the prefecture. If completed, this would mark the first adoption of such an on-site interim storage facility at KEPCO's nuclear power plants. A dry storage facility is used to store spent nuclear fuel discharged from reactors. The basic approach involves placing spent fuel into dedicated metal containers and cooling them naturally through air circulation, without relying on electrical systems. Since the containers themselves can be transported by ship or trailer, subsequent off-site transfer is relatively convenient; even in the event of a power outage, the associated accident risk is considered low. Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) and Shikoku Electric Power Company operate nuclear power plants that have already adopted this storage method.

2026-08-25

Kansai Electric Power Launches Two Joint Research Projects for Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning

Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. announced on August 24 that it has completed the selection of joint research projects related to nuclear power plant decommissioning for fiscal year 2026, choosing two proposals from previously solicited research plans, and signed joint research contracts and commenced research activities on the same day. The projects target research on products and technologies applicable to decommissioning operations at Kansai Electric Power's nuclear power plants. The company solicited research proposals to be implemented from fiscal year 2026 between March 16 and April 30, 2026, with a focus on improving the safety and efficiency of dismantling operations, reducing radioactive waste, and supporting local companies in developing related products and technologies. Selected projects...

2026-08-24

Japan's TEPCO Receives 4.8 Billion Yen in Nuclear Damage Compensation Funds

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO Holdings) announced on August 24 that it received a fund disbursement of 4.8 billion yen from the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation (NDF) on the same day. The disbursement was made in accordance with the revised Special Business Plan approved on March 31, 2026. TEPCO stated that, to date, it has received 188.9 billion yen in compensation under the Act on Compensation for Nuclear Damage, and a cumulative total of 11.5524 trillion yen in fund disbursements from the NDF. As the total compensation payments expected by the end of September 2026 are projected to exceed the combined amount of the above funds, the company applied for the 172nd fund disbursement. TEPCO said that while receiving institutional financial support, it will continue to advance compensation efforts for nuclear accident victims and meet related compensation demands. Information on claims and payment status, changes in cumulative total payments, and agreement amounts by category is available through the company's public channels.

2026-08-24

Kyoto Fusioneering Completes 25.72 Billion Yen Series D Funding Round

Japanese fusion startup Kyoto Fusioneering announced on August 24 that it has completed the first closing of its Series D funding round, with total financing of 25.72 billion yen. Of this amount, equity financing totaled 16.72 billion yen and debt financing totaled 9 billion yen, with the debt portion comprising credit lines and loan facilities. With this, the company's cumulative equity financing has reached 32.98 billion yen. Following this funding round, Kyoto Fusioneering is valued at approximately 120 billion yen, a significant increase from its pre-funding valuation, making it the first startup in Japan's fusion sector to exceed a valuation of 100 billion yen. The company has previously secured contracts exceeding 14 billion yen cumulatively in markets such as North America and Europe, and has set a short-term sales target of approximately 10 billion yen.

2026-08-24

Three Years Since Japan Began Discharging Nuclear-Contaminated Water: Over 170,000 Tons Released Across 22 Rounds

Since August 24, 2023, Japan has been discharging nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the Pacific Ocean. As of August 24, 2026, Japan has completed a total of 22 rounds of discharge, with a cumulative volume of approximately 173,000 tons. It is understood that the volume of water stored in on-site tanks has decreased by about 7% compared to before the discharge began. Tokyo Electric Power Company plans to increase the discharge volume of nuclear-contaminated water starting from the current fiscal year and has set a target to complete the decommissioning of the nuclear power plant by 2051. ...

2026-08-24

Japan's GX Promotion Organization Invests in Nuclear Fusion Startups

Japan's Green Transformation Promotion Organization (GX Promotion Organization) has invested in two startups, focusing on nuclear fusion-related technology and plastic recycling businesses respectively. The public funds invested are expected to be approximately 3 billion yen; when private sector funds are included, the total related investment is expected to reach approximately 20 billion yen. The two companies are Kyoto Fusioneering and JEPLAN. Among them, Kyoto Fusioneering is primarily engaged in the development of nuclear fusion engineering technology, while JEPLAN is involved in circular economy businesses such as plastic recycling. Details of the investment are expected to be officially announced by the relevant parties. This investment is seen as part of Japan's push to industrialize its green transformation.

2026-08-24

Collective Radiation Dose of Workers at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Ranks Highest Nationwide

Japanese nuclear power plant operators are required to submit radiation management reports to the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) annually, detailing the exposure status of plant workers. According to the relevant 2025 reports, the collective radiation dose of workers at Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)'s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station remains significantly higher than at other Japanese nuclear plants, indicating that the radiological impact from post-accident on-site decommissioning and management work is still ongoing. By collective dose per plant, Fukushima Daiichi recorded 20.97 person-sieverts, the highest in Japan. This figure is nine times the 2.22 person-sieverts reported at Kansai Electric Power's Takahama Nuclear Power Station...

2026-08-24

No abnormalities detected at multiple nuclear power plants after earthquake in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

At around 2 a.m. on August 23, an earthquake struck the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, with a maximum seismic intensity of 5-lower observed in parts of Ibaraki Prefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Saitama Prefecture, and Chiba Prefecture. The Japanese government subsequently established a liaison office at the Crisis Management Center of the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that relevant departments have been instructed to verify the damage situation and promptly release accurate information to the public. The earthquake posed no risk of tsunami. Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) stated that a seismic intensity of 3 was observed in the area where the Tokai Daini Nuclear Power Plant is located in Tokai Village, Ibaraki Prefecture. The unit is currently shut down, and as of now...

2026-08-24

Restart Plan for Unit 3 of Japan's Tomari Nuclear Power Plant May Face Uncertainty Due to Supplementary Review and Accident

Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Unit 3 of the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant was originally scheduled to restart in 2027, but the plan may face uncertainty due to additional review items and a fatal accident at the construction site. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) announced on August 20 that it will hold a supplementary review meeting on September 3 to deliberate on the approval of construction plans related to the restart of Unit 3 at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant. This review requires new confirmation of fire safety measures. Hokkaido Electric Power stated that it will explain the construction plans at the September meeting and continue to work toward the 2027 restart target. Additionally, during the seawall construction at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant, a...

2026-08-23