Japan's restart of a nuclear reactor has reignited concerns about the country's ability to manage spent nuclear fuel, as storage facilities near capacity and no clear long-term disposal plan is in place. The reboot has drawn attention to a deepening structural problem within Japan's nuclear programme, where the accumulation of radioactive waste is outpacing available infrastructure. The issue is particularly pressing for a country that has long relied on nuclear energy but has struggled to build public and political consensus around permanent waste disposal solutions.