The Japanese government has recently set an ambitious
target to reduce its CO2 emissions by expanding renewables
and nuclear power plants (NPPs). Perception of nuclear
power, however, has always been an issue in Japan. This
research reports the results of a survey regarding public
acceptance of NPPs in three community groups and
associations with some of its influencing factors. The
samples are taken from one site near a plant under
construction (Kaminoseki), another near a plant in operation
(Hamaoka) and one without plants nearby (Kyoto). Among
the findings, the preference to expand nuclear power was 28
percent, while that to decrease it was 11 percent. In
addition, the community acceptance may shift from 28 to 65
percent in a special case of constrained acceptance. People
living near the planning and the consumption sites had the
highest acceptance rates and the least polarised view towards
NPPs expansion. Among the analysed factors of influence,
“Inclusion in the decision process” had a significant
correlation with both cases of acceptance (b=0.22). Some
measures to improve community acceptance before plans for
NPPs expansion are included as recommendations.