Mayor pushing for spent nuclear-fuel facility reelected in Yamaguchi

What happened: Tetsuo Nishi, mayor of Kaminoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, was reelected on Sunday, keeping his policy of hosting an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel. Key numbers: Nishi is 79 and began his first term in 2022. The facility plan emerged in 2023. Rival Koji Hara is 54. Why it matters: The result continues the town's move toward the Chugoku Electric Power survey needed to build the facility, which Nishi tied to state nuclear subsidies for child-rearing and welfare. Hara criticized him for dividing residents over nuclear policy.

Tetsuo Nishi, mayor of Kaminoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, was reelected on Sunday, keeping his policy of hosting an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.

The result continues the town's move toward the Chugoku Electric Power survey needed to build the facility, which Nishi tied to state nuclear subsidies for child-rearing and welfare. Hara criticized him for dividing residents over nuclear policy.