Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has suspended safety assessments for the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant in Shizuoka Prefecture after discovering that operator Chubu Electric Power may have significantly underestimated earthquake risks at the facility. The decision, announced on January 7, 2026, marks a serious setback for the plant's potential restart and raises broader questions about nuclear safety oversight in Japan. According to NHK, the NRA held an emergency meeting where officials decided to halt all ongoing safety reviews of the Hamaoka plant and conduct on-site inspections to investigate the extent of the problem. The suspension affects the comprehensive safety assessment required before any nuclear facility can resume operations in Japan—a process that has been underway since the stricter regulations were implemented following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. NRA Chairman Yamanaka Shinsuke used unusually strong language to describe the situation during a regular press conference, stating that Chubu Electric's alleged underestimation of seismic risks "destroys nuclear safety." According to NHK's political coverage, Yamanaka indicated that the entire safety review process for Hamaoka may need to be completely restarted from the beginning, suggesting years of additional delays before any potential restart could be considered. The Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant, located in Shizuoka Prefecture approximately 200 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, has been offline since 2011. The facility sits in a particularly seismically active region, directly above the expected epicenter of a major Tokai earthquake that seismologists have long warned could strike the area. This geological reality makes accurate earthquake risk assessment absolutely critical for any safety evaluation. For foreign residents living in Japan, this development underscores ongoing concerns about nuclear safety management more than a decade after the Fukushima disaster. While the Hamaoka plant remains offline and poses no immediate operational risk, the revelation that earthquake assessments may have been inadequate raises questions about the thoroughness of safety reviews at other nuclear facilities across Japan. The timing of this announcement is particularly significant as Japan continues to debate its energy future. The government has been gradually restarting nuclear reactors that pass stringent safety reviews as part of its strategy to reduce carbon emissions and ensure energy security. However, public skepticism about nuclear power remains high, especially among residents living near nuclear facilities. The NRA's decision to suspend the review process and conduct on-site inspections demonstrates the regulator's willingness to take decisive action when safety concerns emerge. The planned inspections will examine how Chubu Electric conducted its seismic risk assessments and whether similar problems exist in other aspects of the safety review. For expats living in the Tokai region, particularly in Shizuoka Prefecture and surrounding areas, this news confirms that the Hamaoka plant will remain offline for the foreseeable future. Given that Chairman Yamanaka suggested the entire review process may need restarting, any potential restart is likely years away at minimum. The suspension also highlights the broader context of nuclear regulation in Japan. The NRA, established after Fukushima as an independent regulatory body, has shown itself willing to halt processes and demand higher standards when safety questions arise. This represents a significant change from pre-Fukushima regulatory culture, which critics argued was too close to the nuclear industry. As this situation develops, foreign residents should monitor announcements from local governments in the Tokai region and stay informed about emergency preparedness measures. While the suspended safety review means no restart is imminent, the underlying seismic risks that make Hamaoka's location challenging remain a geological reality for the region regardless of the plant's operational status.