JAEA

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is a national research and development organization in Japan dedicated to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, radiation science, and related technologies. It conducts basic and applied research across nuclear energy systems, the nuclear fuel cycle, radiological science, and safeguards, with the aim of advancing safe, sustainable energy and scientific innovation.

JAEA was established in 2005 through the merger of the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) and the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC). The agency carries out research and development to improve reactor safety, optimize fuel-cycle processes, manage radioactive waste, and study materials and environmental radiology. It also pursues fusion energy research and applications of radiation science in medicine, industry, and security.

Facilities and programs within JAEA span multiple sites and centers across Japan, including research establishments that host nuclear reactors, hot laboratories, and engineering centers, as well as fusion-related facilities. A prominent fusion program component is the JT-60 tokamak, conducted as part of international collaboration on fusion energy. JAEA also engages in international cooperation, sharing findings with organizations such as the IAEA and OECD/NEA, and participates in bilateral research agreements and joint projects.

Governed as a national institute under the Japanese government, JAEA provides technical expertise to policymakers, supports regulatory and safety research, and contributes to training, education, and public outreach in nuclear science. The agency’s work encompasses safety analysis, materials development for nuclear applications, and efforts toward nonproliferation and safeguards.