WorksheetsJapan's Pivot back to Nuclear
Total questions: 24
Worksheet time: 12mins
Which chain of events best explains why Japan faced an energy vacuum after 2011?
Earthquake damage reduced hydro dams and coal capacity
Policy reforms rapidly expanded wind and solar generation
Reactor meltdowns led to nationwide shutdowns of nuclear plants
Tsunami destroyed LNG import terminals across the coast
Why did electricity costs for Japanese businesses rise sharply in the years after Fukushima?
Household demand surged while industry usage collapsed
Grid upgrades for renewables eliminated fuel subsidies
Domestic coal production fell due to mine closures
Greater reliance on imported LNG and coal increased prices
Which statement best compares renewables to nuclear for Japan’s power needs described here?
Wind and solar provided constant baseload more than nuclear
Wind and solar grew but were less reliable than nuclear
Neither nuclear nor renewables required fuel imports for power
Nuclear was intermittent whereas wind and solar were firm
What was a major geopolitical factor that intensified Japan’s energy insecurity after Fukushima?
Global uranium scarcity limiting reactor restarts
Regional hydroelectric shortages caused by drought
Trade embargoes ending LNG contracts with Australia
Rising LNG prices during the Russia–Ukraine war
Which outcome most directly resulted from shutting down all 54 reactors?
Lower vulnerability to global price fluctuations
Immediate replacement by offshore wind farms
Rapid decline in electricity consumption nationwide
Increased dependence on imported fossil fuels
Which reasoning best supports business calls for stable baseload power in recent years?
Household solar panels fully cover industrial needs
Hydropower alone can meet fluctuating industrial loads
Tourism growth reduces nighttime electricity demand
Data centers and chip fabs need 24/7 reliable electricity
What trade-off is highlighted in debates about restarting reactors in Japan?
Accepting blackouts to promote renewables growth
Balancing economic pressures with public safety fears
Choosing between coal and hydropower expansion
Preferring battery storage over power efficiency
Which evidence indicates economic strain linked to post-Fukushima energy changes?
Nationwide fuel taxes were eliminated completely
Household electric bills fell due to conservation
Business electricity costs reportedly up by about 74%
Industrial output surged despite higher tariffs
Why did communities experience lasting disruption beyond radiation exposure?
Long evacuations, abandoned towns, and social trauma
Rapid reconstruction erased most disaster memories
Reactor restarts quickly restored local economies
Tsunami damage was confined to uninhabited areas
Which reason best explains why Japan prioritizes restarting existing nuclear plants rather than building new ones immediately?
New builds have faster permitting timelines
Public protests only affect brand-new plants
Restarting is seen as most cost-effective option
Existing plants provide lower safety standards
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa’s location reduces tsunami risk but raises another concern. Which factor most contributes to that concern?
Proximity to major tectonic faults nearby
Higher elevation than coastal reactors
Distance from populated urban centers
Colder climate affecting cooling water
Which statement best captures TEPCO’s financial pressure linked to restarts?
Over $42 billion in debts increase bailout risk
Profits from exports fund all upgrades easily
Debts are unrelated to operating decisions
Government is a minor shareholder with limits
Which policy stance is associated with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as of late 2025?
Prioritizing nuclear within energy strategy
Phasing out reactors within five years
Banning foreign-built plant components
Shifting entirely to off-grid renewables
Which historical factor most strongly shapes modern anti-nuclear protests in Japan?
Trauma from the 1945 atomic bombings
Oil embargoes during the 1970s
Privatization of rail and shipping
Deregulation of electric utilities
Why is nuclear power considered important for Japan’s AI and semiconductor sectors?
These facilities need uninterrupted reliable power
They mainly operate only during daylight hours
They can pause safely during wind lulls
They rely on small backup diesel generators
What risk might Japan face in global competition if nuclear capacity remains limited?
Reduced interest in semiconductor fabrication
Overreliance on domestic coal resources
A surplus of cheap electricity long-term
Falling behind U.S. and South Korea in industry
Which global trend increases pressure for Japan to maintain nuclear expertise?
Russia and China leading new reactor markets
Decline of data center electricity demand
Expansion of geothermal as sole baseload
Permanent ban on fuel reprocessing worldwide
Which statement best explains why Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are being developed by Japanese companies like Hitachi and Toshiba?
They maximize fossil fuel extraction rates
They offer smaller, safer, cheaper alternatives
They prioritize tourism over industrial growth
They depend on unpredictable weather patterns
A town like Kusatsu might resist geothermal projects primarily because
Onsen tourism could be threatened culturally
Nuclear policy requires local consent
Drilling always increases earthquake risks
Geothermal emits higher carbon than coal
Why are renewables described as insufficient for baseload power in the passage?
They produce excessive nighttime surpluses
They require too much imported uranium
They cannot connect to national grids
They cover only about 20–25 percent needs
In the reading, what trade-off does nuclear energy represent for Japan?
Rapid deployment versus short plant lifetimes
Consistent low‑carbon power versus catastrophic risk
Cheap fossil fuels versus export restrictions
High emissions reduction versus grid instability
SMRs are highlighted as optimizing land use compared with
Advanced large reactors using bigger footprints
Onshore wind turbines near coastlines
Rooftop solar arrays on urban buildings
Traditional hydroelectric dam reservoirs
The phrase "At what cost?" in the video critique most directly invites students to evaluate
Environmental benefits versus nuclear risks
Tourism revenue versus drilling royalties
Import tariffs versus export subsidies
Wind variability versus battery storage
Baseload power is most accurately defined here as electricity that
Varies widely with seasonal sunlight
Comes exclusively from renewable sources
Peaks only during extreme weather events
Meets continuous minimum demand reliably
