Japan's Large Nuclear Reactors Trigger Envy in Australia

Japan aims to generate roughly 20% of its electricity from nuclear power by 2030. However, the country does not operate truck-sized nuclear reactors on its northern island, Hokkaido. Recent social media posts falsely claim that Japan is testing a tiny, box-sized nuclear power plant developed by the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) capable of powering a small town. NIFS has confirmed that no such technology exists.

One widely shared post from November 23, 2025, by an Australia-based Facebook user, stated: "Japan launched the Yoroi Reactor -- a tiny, box-sized nuclear power plant that fits in a shipping container and can supply 1 megawatt of clean energy to small towns or disaster areas," claiming that two units were installed in Hokkaido. Another post from November 7 repeated these claims, featuring an image of workers examining what looks like a reactor inside a truck, marked with the radiation symbol.

Similar posts have circulated internationally, appearing on TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other Facebook groups. In Australia, some conservative Facebook groups promoting the claim criticized the ruling Labor Party, which has invested heavily in solar, wind, and green manufacturing projects. Opposition members have expressed skepticism about renewable energy policies and recently abandoned the partys net-zero by 2050 commitment.

Japans nuclear program was largely halted after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused the Fukushima disaster. While more than a dozen reactors have resumed operations, the restart of the worlds largest nuclear plant in Niigata province marks a key step in the governments plan to reduce fossil fuel dependency and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Officials from NIFS clarified that they are not involved with any truck-sized reactors. Kazuya Takahata, director of NIFSs public relations office, stated on November 26 that the claims are entirely inaccurate and that the institute has no knowledge of how this misinformation originated. Hokkaido Electric Power Company also confirmed it has no knowledge of such a reactor.

The Tomari nuclear plant in Hokkaido, which has three reactorsone cleared for safety inspection and two under reviewis not operational. Earlier in 2025, similar misinformation about portable reactors in Japan spread online, generating millions of views before being debunked by the Australian Associated Press.

Author: Sophia Brooks