Very unwise move. Japan would be much better off using Negawatts than Megawatts.
It should honor it's technological and protocolar society by managing energy usage, investing in energy savings, managing movements and ressource allocations so as to maximize efficiency before it even starts producing more energy.
Nuclear energy has proven itself to be dangerous, to cause accidents, to spill radioactivity, to leave dangerous radioactive waste and to bring the risk of proliferation. It is definitely not the route to take.

To this very day, I can't believe what has happened to Japan. In my eyes, held to highest esteem as our technological twin (USA's)....but bure aucrats ignored what I hope China will not ignor. In the 1970's several warnings were issued to the Japan's government about a specific and potential tsunami effects concerning cooling pumps for the four reactors. Further, that the calculated designs for abutments needed to addess tidal surges fell several feet short for quakes  along the coast of the Fukushima area. Nuclear power, in terms of safety, is entering a period somewhere between childhood and adolescence as did the automobile when the manufacturerers met up with the likes of Ralph Nader. China! do not dismiss the Thorium stream possibilities, do not use graphite or uncontained (without reinforced dome) reactors! learn from the French and build them all the same! the world will be watching! Don't mess up,  and offer assistance to your old enemy, The Rising Sun. Think of it as a "Marshal plan"....

As bad as Nuclear can be I can't see any other alternative energy source to provide a reliable base load for a 1st world nation-------------- ------------
We have a single solar panel on our roof. With responsible u se of energy it's more then enough power for our house.If every building was equipped with it's own solar panel, and people were able to visually see and understand their power usage - we would have no problems supporting ourselves without destructive sources of energy!
Too bad Americans are close-minded glutto ns 

People matter more than stuff. Germany discovered that after Fukishima and decided to shut down its nuclear energy and replace that energy with solar and wind energy. These days it's probably easier to be a nationalist in Germany than in Japan.

Sad but predictable news.

Japan is rich in natural energy. Geothermal energy, tidal energy, wind energy, and solar energy. All of these resources are being under used or not used at all. The people of Japan have spoken and they do not want nuclear power. This is just another example of the 1% controling the government with money while the people have no say in anything. GENERAL STRIKE for JAPAN!

At least this time do not allow an Israeli firm to control its security.

There is always another way. Personally I suggest For Japan and Everyone else to forget about nuclear energy and find alternatives which definitely exist :)
Love, Oneness, Laughter and the Light of God Almighty :)

As bad as Nuclear can be I can't see any other alternative energy source to provide a reliable base load for a 1st world nation, The next best is coal for base boosted by natural gas for peak loads which is many times worse
I would be pushing for replacement of the 40 year old reactors to modern reactors with much better safety. The government has to step up as-well and ensure the company's are installing the necessary safe ty equipment and training. More control about renewals of aging reactors should be investigated.

Until the nuclear haters can throw a reasonable alter native generation means we have no choice other then nuclear unless society wan ts to cut back their power rich consumption. 

GoldMorg anti points that Fukushima was a tsunami induced nuclear disaster. There was little dammage to the east-coast by quake but catastrofic destruction by the tsunami. - - - - The expected large Los Angelos and / or San Fransisko quake will be much more catastrofic. 911 has shown that many so called quake resistent high rises will collaps. The Twin Towers collapsed because of weak connections between the beams and the colums. When a floor comes down it knocks down the next and the building collapses by a chain reaction. Interesting that this lecture by the collaps of the Twin Towers is ignored. A big quake can not only happen in Califorian but also in the area of Seattle and in the East States, New York for example. - --- - It is really embarrasing, that in common the connections between the beams and colums are very weak. It is the result of weak authorities without sufficient regulations and control. Similar to the banking krisis it is a result of the so called free economie. It is very worrying that a nation with such weak authorities has  a huge nuklear arsenal.

GoldMorg anti knows some small provisions can make the reaktors much safer. With these small provisions the Fukushima reaktors would have survived. It is very embarrasing that these cheap provisions are not applied.

Radiation in New Zealand have increased by a facto of 1.1 to 4.5 since Fukushima. The world is facing a Great Extinction.
The nuclear industry is insane.

Well the Americans are pushing them to it, although knowing well the danger, applying pressure on them to cut off the oils supplies from Iran. It seems Japan has no other choice.