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Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has restarted its No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, marking the first nuclear reactor reactivation in Japan since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The restart comes after a minor alarm issue delayed initial operations, with the reactor generating 1.35 gigawatts and expected to reach 50% output within a week.

Full commercial operations are targeted for late February, pending regulatory approval. This reactor is part of Japan's strategy to enhance energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports, with 15 operational reactors now out of 33 available units. The restart aligns with political efforts, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, to revive nuclear energy amidst local opposition and rising regional tensions.