Japan to phase out nuclear energy by 2040

Japan on Friday said it planned to phase out nuclear power over three decades in an apparent bow to public pressure after last year's Fukushima disaster, the worst atomic accident in a generation.

Japan energy deadlock deepens; government fails to announce policy mix

TOKYO (Reuters) - Deadlock in Japan between anti-nuclear activists and advocates of atomic power deepened on Monday as the government failed to produce an expected proposal to reduce the role of nuclear power in the country's energy portfolio after the Fukushima disaster.

Nuclear energy wild card in Japan poll which Democrats likely to lose

(Reuters) - Growing Japanese opposition to nuclear energy after the Fukushima disaster will be a wild card in a general election many expect within months, but politicians on both sides of the aisle agree on one thing: the Democratic Party is likely to fall from power just three years after its historic landslide win.

Japan anti-nuclear groups protest at parliament

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people protested against nuclear power outside Japan's parliament on Sunday, the same day a proponent of using renewable energy to replace nuclear following the Fukushima disaster was defeated in a local election.

Japan PM atomic energy stance on trial in local poll

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's post-Fukushima nuclear energy policy will be on trial in a local governor's election on Sunday, where an upset victory by a renewable energy candidate would deal Noda's wobbly administration a new blow.

Nuclear issue puts increasing pressure on Japan government

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's government came under fire on Tuesday over its handling of public hearings on nuclear energy policy, threatening to dent already sagging support for the ruling party ahead of an election many expect to be this year.

Japan's LNG, oil demand to remain strong after reactor restarts

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's decision to restart two nuclear reactors idled for safety checks after the Fukushima catastrophe won't cut the country's spiraling fossil-fuel import bill unless more atomic units are brought back on line, traders and analysts said.

Japan's firms fear summer meltdown in nuclear-free nation

TOKYO: Japan's hard-hit manufacturers are facing a long summer with businesses making everything from ice creams to crayons fretting production may be hampered as the now nuclear-free nation faces energy cuts.

Japan shuts down last nuclear reactor

Tokyo (CNN) -- As Japan began its workweek Monday morning, the trains ran exactly on time, the elevators in thousands of Tokyo high-rises efficiently moved between floors, and the lights turned on across cities with nary a glitch.

Noda pledges new basic energy plan by next summer

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda pledged Sept. 13 to come up with a new basic energy policy by next summer to reduce the nation's dependence on nuclear energy.

Noda, making his first policy speech, said: "It is unproductive to perceive energy policy as a confrontation between those who call for a move away from nuclear energy and those who promote nuclear energy."