• Japan suspends restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear reactor shortly after it was initiated.
• Technical issues arose related to alarm systems during the restart process.
• Public opinion remains divided, with about 60% of residents opposing the restart.
• The reactor is stable, and there is no radioactive impact reported outside.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), suspended the restart of its No 6 reactor just hours after it was activated on Wednesday. This marked the first restart of a reactor since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, which led to severe public concern regarding nuclear energy safety, according to SCMP.

During the restart, an alarm from the monitoring system activated, prompting Tepco to remove the reactor's control rods and halt operations while investigating the incident. Tepco assured the public that the reactor remained stable and that there were no signs of radioactive impact outside the facility, as stated by spokesperson Takashi Kobayashi, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.

This incident follows a series of technical challenges that delayed the restart of the reactor, which had initially been scheduled for Tuesday. Previous malfunctions caused Tepco to push back the restart process, indicating ongoing concerns about the plant's operational integrity. The facility was originally taken offline in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, needing rigorous scrutiny before any recommencement of operations, according to Al Jazeera and SCMP.

Despite a broader push in Japan to renew its nuclear energy capabilities to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet carbon neutrality goals by 2050, public sentiment remains skeptical. Recent surveys indicate that approximately 60% of Niigata residents oppose the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facilities, with local protests highlighting community fears over safety, as expressed by protester Yumiko Abe, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.