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Fukui Gov. Nishikawa rejects Monju decommission plan

FUKUI, Japan, Dec. 21 Kyodo - Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa attends a meeting with the central government in Tokyo on Dec. 21, 2016. Nishikawa refused to accept the government plan to decommission the Monju fast-breeder reactor in the Sea of Japan coastal prefecture.

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Japan moves step closer to scrapping trouble-prone Monju reactor

NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 21 Kyodo - Photo taken Sept. 21, 2016, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the reactor building of the Monju fast-breeder unit in the Sea of Japan coastal city of Tsuruga. The government decided that day to rethink its policy on the plutonium-burning reactor that has hardly operated over the past 20 years despite its intended key role in Japan's nuclear fuel recycling policy.

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NRA begins safety inspections of Monju reactor

TSRUGA, Japan - A senior official of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency addresses a meeting in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on Dec. 3, 2014, to mark the start of quarterly safety inspections of its Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor by the Nuclear Regulation Authority. Operation of the Monju reactor has been effectively banned by the NRA since finding improperly inspected equipment in the past.

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Monju fast-breeder reactor's reform period to be extended

FUKUI, Japan - Members of a Japan Atomic Energy Agency panel discuss the issue of restructuring the troubled Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, western Japan, on Sept. 25, 2014. The agency's Monju safety review committee made clear in a draft report to the government unveiled at the meeting it will extend the term of restructuring the reactor to March 2015 from the original deadline of this September.

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NRA official explains inspection on Monju reactor

TSURUGA, Japan - A senior official of the Nuclear Regulation Authority (C) explains an inspection of the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor on June 9, 2014, on the premises of the reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture.

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Monju operator explains how to improve safety management

TOKYO, Japan - Shinzo Saito (L), chief at the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor, gives an account to the Nuclear Regulation Authority of how to improve the safety management of the improperly inspected facility on June 5, 2014, in Tokyo.

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Manjusri image at Chikurin-ji temple unveiled for 1st time in 50 years

KOCHI, Japan - "Monju Bosatsu, " an image of Manjusri, sitting atop a roaring lion, which symbolizes the powerful voice of Buddhist Law and the power of Buddhism to overcome all obstacles, goes on display to the public on April 25, 2014 for the first time in 50 years at Chikurin-ji, a Shingon temple in Kochi, Kochi Prefecture, western Japan. The temple is number 31 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage said to be launched by Kukai, a renowned monk also known as Kobo Daishi, 1,200 years ago. The display is open to the public through May 25. (Pool photo by Kochi Shimbun).

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Monju fast-breeder reactor

TOKYO, Japan - A July 2013 file photo shows the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. The government is considering reviewing its research project to commercialize the Monju reactor, a move that could affect Japan's long-held policy of recycling spent nuclear fuel, informed sources said on Feb. 7, 2014.

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Fault investigation at reactor site

TSURUGA, Japan - A team of experts appointed by the Nuclear Regulation Authority examines a fault in the town of Mihama, Fukui Prefecture, on July 17, 2013. They started the two-day investigation into the activity of some geologic faults running beneath the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in the prefecture. (Pool photo)

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Fault investigation at reactor site

TSURUGA, Japan - A team of experts appointed by the Nuclear Regulation Authority examines a fault in the town of Mihama, Fukui Prefecture, on July 17, 2013. They started the two-day investigation into the activity of some geologic faults running beneath the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in the prefecture. (Pool photo)

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Fault investigation at reactor site

TSURUGA, Japan - A team of experts appointed by the Nuclear Regulation Authority examines a fault in the town of Mihama, Fukui Prefecture, on July 17, 2013. They started the two-day investigation into the activity of some geologic faults running beneath the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in the prefecture. (Pool photo)

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Fault investigation at reactor site

TSURUGA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on July 17, 2013, the day a team of experts appointed by the Nuclear Regulation Authority started a two-day investigation into the activity of some geologic faults running beneath the reactor.

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Fault investigation at reactor site

TSURUGA, Japan - Photo shows the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on July 17, 2013, the day a team of experts appointed by the Nuclear Regulation Authority started a two-day investigation into the activity of some geologic faults running beneath the reactor.

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Regulators ban Monju reactor from restarting

TOKYO, Japan - Yonezo Tsujikura (L front), executive vice president of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, receives a written order from an official of the Nuclear Regulation Authority that effectively prohibits the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor from restarting until the operator improves its safety management system, in Tokyo on May 30, 2013.

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Monju reactor

TOKYO, Japan - Nuclear Regulation Authority Chairman Shunichi Tanaka (R) speaks during a meeting of the authority in Tokyo on May 15, 2013. The authority decided to issue an order effectively prohibiting the Monju prototype fast-breeder nuclear reactor from restarting, noting a series of problems with safety management.

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Monju reactor

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in March 2012 shows the Monju prototype fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. The Nuclear Regulation Authority decided on May 15, 2013, to issue an order effectively prohibiting the reactor from restarting, noting a series of problems with safety management.

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Nuclear authority not to allow restart of Monju reactor

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in March 2012 shows the prototype fast-breeder nuclear reactor Monju in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority is considering not allowing the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, the operator of the 280,000-kilowatt reactor, to resume operations before its sloppy safety management is improved, sources close to the matter said May 13, 2013.

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Fast breeder reactor costing

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken on November 2011 shows the prototype fast-breeder reactor Monju in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. If development of Monju is continued, its costs will swell to over 1.4 trillion yen and its power generation costs will be 10,000 yen per kilowatt hour, roughly 1,000 times greater than a regular reactor, according to data compiled by Kyodo News.

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Nuclear disaster minister Hosono at Monju reactor

TSURUGA, Japan - Japanese nuclear disaster minister Goshi Hosono (C) visits the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor facility in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on Nov. 26, 2011. Hosono said the Monju program has come to a ''crossroads,'' indicating the necessity of studying options for operation of the trouble-plagued reactor including scrapping.

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Monju reactor's lab unused

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Nov. 11, 2011, shows the inside of a laboratory affiliated with the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor, in Tokaimura, Ibaraki Prefecture. The lab, designed to develop new nuclear fuel recycling technology, has been unused since its construction was suspended in 2000 following several accidents, prompting the Board of Audit of Japan to call on Nov. 14, 2011, for the operator of the Monju reactor to find a use for it. Some 83 billion yen has already been spent on it.

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Monju reactor's lab unused

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Nov. 11, 2011, shows the inside of a laboratory affiliated with the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor, in Tokaimura, Ibaraki Prefecture. The lab, designed to develop new nuclear fuel recycling technology, has been unused since its construction was suspended in 2000 following several accidents, prompting the Board of Audit of Japan to call on Nov. 14, 2011, for the operator of the Monju reactor to find a use for it. Some 83 billion yen has already been spent on it.

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Monju fast-breeder reactor

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in June 2011 shows the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture.

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Fallen device at Monju reactor disclosed to media

TSURUGA, Japan - The Japan Atomic Energy Agency disclosed a recently retrieved fuel exchange device which had accidentally fallen into the vessel of the prototype fast-breeder reactor Monju to the media in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on July 13, 2011, after disassembling and inspecting the device.

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Work to remove fallen device from Monju reactor

TSURUGA, Japan - Work begins to retrieve a device that has fallen inside the vessel of the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on the night of June 23, 2011. The cylindrical 3.3-ton device used for fuel exchange fell inside the reactor vessel in August 2010.

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Containing device fallen in Monju reactor

TSURUGA, Japan - Workers prepare to install a large container to be used to hold a cylindrical device that fell in August 2010 inside the vessel of prototype fast-breeder reactor Monju in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on June 22, 2011.

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Monju operation

TSURUGA, Japan - Preparatory work begins to retrieve a device that fell inside the vessel of prototype fast-breeder reactor Monju in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on May 24, 2011. The 3.3-ton device fell by mistake in August 2010.

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Monju operation

TSURUGA, Japan - Preparatory work begins to retrieve a device that fell inside the vessel of prototype fast-breeder reactor Monju in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on May 24, 2011. The 3.3-ton device fell by mistake in August 2010.

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Recovery of fallen device at Monju reactor planned

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken May 2010 shows the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency said May 10, 2011, that it will undertake work in June 2011 to recover a fallen 3.3-ton device at the reactor. The device used for fuel exchange accidentally fell into the reactor vessel in August 2010.

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Monju nuclear reactor restarts after 14-yr hiatus

TSURUGA, Japan - Toshio Okazaki (L), chief of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, and Kazuo Mukai, head of the agency's Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor, shake hands wrapping up a press conference in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on May 6, 2010. The reactor resumed operations the same day after more than 14 years of suspension.

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Monju nuclear reactor restarts after 14-yr hiatus

TSURUGA, Japan - A Japan Coast Guard boat patrols near the Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan coast on May 6, 2010. The reactor resumed operations the same day after 14 years and five months of suspension due to a series of accidents and glitches including a sodium coolant leak.

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Monju nuclear reactor restarts after 14-yr hiatus

TSURUGA, Japan - Workers check the control system of the Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on May 6, 2010. The reactor resumed operations the same day after more than 14 years of suspension. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Monju nuclear reactor restarts after 14-yr hiatus

TSURUGA, Japan - Workers check the control system of the Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on May 6, 2010. The reactor resumed operations the same day after more than 14 years of suspension. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Monju nuclear reactor restarts after 14-yr hiatus

TSURUGA, Japan - This photo shows the Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan coast on May 6, 2010. The reactor resumed operations the same day after 14 years and five months of suspension due to a series of accidents and glitches including a sodium coolant leak.

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Monju nuclear reactor restarts after 14-yr hiatus

TSURUGA, Japan - Workers check the control system of the Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on May 6, 2010. The reactor resumed operations the same day after more than 14 years of suspension. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Monju nuclear reactor restarts after 14-yr hiatus

TSURUGA, Japan - A police boat patrols near the Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan coast on May 6, 2010. The reactor resumed operations the same day after 14 years and five months of suspension due to a series of accidents and glitches including a sodium coolant leak.

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Monju nuclear reactor restarts after 14-yr hiatus

TSURUGA, Japan - This photo shows the Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan coast on May 6, 2010. The reactor resumed operations the same day after 14 years and five months of suspension due to a series of accidents and glitches including a sodium coolant leak.

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Relaunch of fast-breeder reactor postponed to April, later

FUKUI, Japan - Photo taken March 14, 2010, shows Japan's prototype fast-breeder reactor Monju in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. Japan Atomic Energy Agency sources said the agency is now almost certain to carry over the relaunch of the reactor to April or later from March as earlier expected due to a delay in technical and administrative procedures.

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Anti-nuclear power scientist Kume dies at 83

TOKYO, Japan - Sanshiro Kume (file photo), an outspoken anti-nuclear power plant scientist, died of heart failure on Sept. 2. He was 83. Specializing in radiochemistry, Kume served as an advisor to residents who filed a lawsuit seeking to revoke a state permit for construction of the Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture.

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Monju operation to be resumed

TOKYO, Japan - This August 2005 file photo shows the prototype fast-breeder nuclear reactor Monju in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan coast. Operations of the plant will be resumed by the end of March 2010.

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Resumption of Monju reactor likely to be postponed again

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in August 2005 shows Monju prototype fast breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. Sources close to the Japan Atomic Energy Agency said on Jan. 8 that the resumption of the suspended reactor, operated by the agency, is likely to be postponed for several months from the currently scheduled date of February.

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1st exercise under safe evacuation law carried out around N-plant

TSURUGA, Japan - A Japan Coast Guard patrol voat and an Air Self-Defense Force helicopter take part in the first exercise organized by the Japanese government under the safe evacuation law in the town of Mihama, Fukui Prefecture, on Nov. 27. Seen behind in the fast-breeder reactor Monju located in Tsuruga on the Sea of Japan. The exercise was based on a scenario that a nuclear power plant came under a terrorist attack.

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Work begins to revamp accident-hit experimental nuke reactor

TSURUGA, Japan - Full-fledged work started Sept. 1 to modify the experimental Monju fast-breeder reactor (photo taken Aug. 16) in Fukui Prefecture, which has remained shut since a fire occurred there 10 years ago, the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute said.

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(3)Top court says gov't 1983 approval to build Monju reactor was valid

TOKYO, Japan - Residents of Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, and their supporters shout their protest outside the Supreme Court in Tokyo on May 30 after the court ruled that the government's 1983 approval to build the Monju experimental fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga was valid, overturning a 2003 high court ruling that invalidated the approval.

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(2)Top court says gov't 1983 approval to build Monju reactor was valid

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken on August 31, 2004 shows the Monju experimental fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. The Supreme Court ruled May 30 that the government's 1983 approval to build the nuclear reactor was valid, overturning a 2003 high court ruling that invalidated the approval.

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(1)Top court says gov't 1983 approval to build Monju reactor was valid

TOKYO, Japan - Five Supreme Court First Petty Bench justices are seated on May 30 to rule on a lower court decision on the government's 1983 approval to build the Monju experimental fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. The top court ruled that the government approval was valid.

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Fukui governor OKs remodeling Monju nuclear power reactor

FUKUI, Japan - Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa said Feb. 6 he has approved a plan to retool the troubled Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor (photo taken August 2004), paving the way for resumption of the power generation facility's operation following a 1995 sodium leak accident.

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Gov't voices regret over high court ruling on Monju reactor

TOKYO, Japan - Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Atsuko Toyama speaks at a press conference at her ministry in Tokyo on Jan. 27. Toyama expressed the government's regret over a Nagoya High Court ruling that nullified its original approval of construction of the Monju experimental fast-breeder nuclear reactor.

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(2)High court nullifies approval of Monju reactor

KANAZAWA, Japan &#8211; A lawyer raises a ''victory'' banner Jan. 27 in front of the Nagoya High Court's Kanazawa branch after the branch nullified the government's approval of the trouble-plagued Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture.

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(3)High court nullifies approval of Monju reactor

KANAZAWA, Japan - Photo taken in August 1999 shows the Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, which was damaged in December 1995 by a massive sodium coolant leak.

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(1)High court nullifies approval of Monju reactor

KANAZAWA, Japan - Plaintiffs enter the Nagoya High Court's Kanazawa branch Jan. 27, the same day the court nullified the government's approval of the trouble-plagued Monju fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, to effectively keep it shut down. The plaintiffs said shortcomings in the government's safety screenings before construction of the reactor were responsible for a massive sodium coolant leak at the plant in 1995.