Overview
- Literature surveys launched in November 2020 in Suttsu and Kamoenai reached the five-year mark on November 17 with no move to the next stage.
- NUMO named all of Suttsu and part of Kamoenai as candidates for second-stage surveys in November 2024, but required procedures to seek local and gubernatorial consent have not been carried out.
- Japan’s system requires approval by the governor or municipal leaders to advance, and Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki continues to oppose moving forward.
- Beyond Hokkaido, few municipalities have joined the process, with reporting noting progress mainly in Genkai, Saga Prefecture.
- Separately, Tomari village mayor Tetsunori Takahashi declared consent to restart Hokkaido Electric’s Tomari Unit 3, citing limited pushback at public briefings and expected economic benefits, marking the first such nod among four municipalities with a safety agreement.