The Yamaguchi District Court Iwakuni Branch ruled against approximately 160 residents who sought to stop the operations of the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant (Unit 3) in Ehime Prefecture. This decision is noteworthy as it marks the fourth consecutive loss for residents in similar lawsuits regarding the same plant, following previous rulings from courts in Oita, Hiroshima, and Matsuyama. The residents expressed concerns about the potential risks posed by nearby active fault lines and inadequacies in safety examinations conducted by Shikoku Electric Power Company. They argued that past volcanic eruptions from Mount Aso in Kyushu had previously reached Honshu, hinting at the dangers the plant could face should such an event occur again.

In response, the defendant, Shikoku Electric Power Company, asserted that their investigations confirmed no active faults near the coastal areas and minimized the likelihood of a major eruption occurring during the operational timeline of the plant. The lawsuit, initially filed in December 2017, underwent 30 oral debates, concluding in April 2025, demonstrating a lengthy legal battle over nuclear safety concerns in Japan.

This ongoing legal contention highlights the significant public anxiety regarding nuclear energy in Japan, particularly in light of historical events like the Fukushima disaster. It underscores the contrasting views between regulatory agencies, power companies, and local residents, putting pressure on the government and the Nuclear Regulation Authority to address these safety concerns more transparently and effectively in a nation that heavily relies on nuclear energy for electricity.