Japan restarts first nuclear power plant since Fukushima

Japan has restarted its first nuclear reactor under new safety rules following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. 

All of Japan's nuclear plants were gradually shut down after a series of meltdowns at the Fukushima plant sparked by the tsunami and earthquake. 

But after passing stringent new safety tests, Kyushu Electric Power restarted the number one reactor at its Sendai plant early this morning. 

There is still strong public pessimism about a return to nuclear power. 

Protests have been taking place outside the Sendai plant and at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's residence in Tokyo, about 1,000 km (600 miles) away.

BBC