Japan is now ready to restart the world's largest nuclear power plant, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant located in Niigata prefecture.
The move is seen as an important phase in returning to nuclear energy after the Fukushima disaster in 2011.
The plant was among 54 reactors that were shut down after a massive earthquake and tsunami triggered the Fukushima nuclear crisis, considered the worst disaster since Chernobyl.
Since the event, Japan has restarted 14 of the 33 reactors that are still operating as a measure to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will be the first plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), the same company that previously managed the Fukushima plant.
If approved, TEPCO also plans to restart one of the seven reactors at the plant on January 20.
TEPCO spokesman Masakatsu Takata explained that his party is committed to protecting the people of Niigata and ensuring that the black event does not happen again.
However, the survey results showed that 60% of residents believe the plant is not yet ready to be reactivated, while 70% of respondents expressed doubts about TEPCO's ability to operate it.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi supports the move to restart nuclear plants to secure energy supplies and reduce the cost of imported fuel, which currently accounts for between 60 and 70% of the country's electricity generation.
Meanwhile, Japan aims to double the contribution of nuclear energy to 20% of total electricity generation by 2040.
