Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has postponed the planned restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant's Unit 6 reactor after discovering critical safety system errors during pre-restart testing. The reactor, which was scheduled to resume operations on January 20, 2026, will remain offline while the utility conducts comprehensive equipment checks, according to NHK. The delay stems from alarm configuration mistakes discovered during control rod withdrawal tests at the Niigata Prefecture facility. Control rods are essential safety components that regulate nuclear reactions by absorbing neutrons. During routine testing procedures, TEPCO engineers found that warning alarms failed to activate as designed when control rods were being extracted from the reactor core. According to NHK, TEPCO has identified the root cause as incorrect alarm settings in the reactor's monitoring systems. These configuration errors prevented safety warnings from triggering during critical testing phases, raising concerns about operational readiness. The company announced it would conduct thorough inspections of related equipment and systems before attempting to proceed with restart procedures. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility, located on Japan's western coast facing the Sea of Japan, is the world's largest nuclear power plant by generating capacity. However, it has remained largely offline since the 2011 Fukushima disaster prompted nationwide nuclear safety reviews. Unit 6 and Unit 7 received technical approval for restart from Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority in 2020, but operations have been repeatedly delayed due to various safety and security concerns. TEPTO has faced particular scrutiny at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa following serious security breaches discovered in 2020 and 2021, including unauthorized staff entry to restricted areas and failures in intrusion detection systems. These violations led the Nuclear Regulation Authority to issue a rare corrective action order prohibiting the movement of nuclear fuel—effectively blocking any restart until security improvements were verified. For foreign residents in Japan, particularly those living in Niigata Prefecture and surrounding areas, this latest delay reflects ongoing challenges in Japan's nuclear energy policy. The country has struggled to balance energy security concerns with public safety demands following the Fukushima catastrophe. Many expats, especially those from countries with different energy policies, may find Japan's cautious approach to nuclear restarts both reassuring and economically concerning. The postponement has immediate implications for Japan's energy landscape. With the country heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels since most nuclear plants went offline after 2011, electricity costs have risen significantly. TEPCO serves the Greater Tokyo area, and delays in bringing Kashiwazaki-Kariwa online may contribute to continued high electricity prices affecting both residential and business consumers. Local authorities in Niigata Prefecture, who must grant approval before any restart can proceed, are expected to receive detailed explanations from TEPCO regarding the alarm configuration errors. Public trust remains fragile, and this setback may further complicate the already difficult process of gaining local consent for nuclear operations. TEPCO has not announced a new target date for the Unit 6 restart, stating only that inspections and corrections must be completed first. The company emphasized its commitment to safety and transparency as it works to address the technical issues. For expats living in affected areas, this development underscores the importance of staying informed about nuclear facility operations and emergency preparedness procedures. While Japan maintains strict safety standards for nuclear operations, incidents like these serve as reminders that the restart process involves complex technical challenges that cannot be rushed. The delay also highlights Japan's broader energy transition challenges as the nation works toward carbon neutrality goals while managing public concerns about nuclear safety—a balancing act that will continue affecting policy decisions and potentially energy costs for all residents, foreign and domestic alike.