Renegotiating Japan’s energy compact

In this chapter, Hughes argues that Japan and Germany are taking divergent paths toward shifting the mix of fuels used in the energy system. This difference has emerged despite the similar goals announced by the German and Japanese governments of reducing the role of nuclear power in the energy mix, and increasing the role of renewable energy sources. Hughes argues that the structural power of Japan’s power utilities—while not absolute—has resulted in a slower uptake in the renewables, placing limits on Japan’s own energy transformation.