At the outset, President Masui commented on the FEPC’s “Estimates of the Scale of Future Nuclear Power Plants Replacements,” presented at the 46th meeting of the Nuclear Subcommittee. He stated, “The estimates are reasonable. Based on that, I proposed that presenting both mid- and long-term projections in two stages would help give industry a sense of hope for the future.”
He also referred to a presentation by the Japan Electrical Manufacturers’ Association at the same meeting, emphasizing the importance of “securing and retaining human resources, utilizing senior personnel, and maintaining the foundation of Japan’s nuclear industry.” Masui added that “it will be crucial to make greater use of automation and digital technologies to sustain current levels of output with limited personnel.”
He went on to report on the Nuclear Industry Seminar 2027, a joint corporate information event aimed at attracting new talent to the nuclear sector. This year, the seminar was held in Fukuoka City for the first time, with a total of 564 participants across three venues (Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka)—a roughly 10% increase in the number of participating companies compared with the previous year. He noted that more students from electrical/electronic and liberal arts fields took part this year, adding, “We plan to further analyze the academic backgrounds and participation trends of students.”
Masui also reported on JAIF’s participation in the 11th East Asia Nuclear Forum, held in Gyeongju, South Korea, where representatives from Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan exchanged views on the current status and future outlook of the nuclear industry.
From South Korea, participants emphasized the importance of maintaining nuclear energy as part of the national energy policy and the need for regional cooperation within East Asia to enhance safety and overcome resource constraints. China outlined its plans to expand nuclear business activities overseas. Taiwan shared updates on the decommissioning of the Chinshan Nuclear Power Plants, presenting concrete milestones for the future.
Representing Japan, President Masui delivered a presentation titled “Key Issues in Japan’s New Nuclear Construction Projects,” discussing both challenges and prospects for future plant construction.
He added that, over the two days following the forum, participants visited several nuclear-related facilities in the Gyeongju area and engaged in active exchanges of views with local experts, expressing his expectation for strengthened regional collaboration in the years ahead.
In response to a question about newly appointed Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae—who declared in her policy speech that Japan will “accelerate the early social implementation of next-generation innovative reactors and fusion energy”—Masui said, “Prime Minister Takaichi has a deep understanding of nuclear energy and a strong commitment to improving the business environment for the nuclear sector. I find her a very encouraging and powerful presence.”
He added that, for JAIF—which has long advocated the importance of creating a stable business environment for nuclear development—Prime Minister Takaichi’s vision aligns closely with its own mission. “We hope the government will continue to pursue a consistent and coherent nuclear policy going forward,” Masui concluded.
