TOKYO — April 24, 2023 — The 56th annual JAIF conference, April 18-19, was an excellent opportunity to reassess the importance of nuclear energy in an international context with representatives attending from South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, France, Finland, Sweden, and Belgium among other attendees from other countries. Here, Anthropocene Institute partner Tom O’Sullivan of Mathyos Global Advisory shares his observations.

Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), addressed the conference, as did senior representatives from the International Energy Agency in Paris.

Mr. Shin Hosaka, the commissioner for the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), represented the Japanese government at the conference. Mr. Hosaka is Japan's most senior civil servant, dealing directly with energy issues.

The conference also included representatives from the private sector, including Japanese utilities and nuclear manufacturing and supply chain companies. In addition, many of Japan's top universities were also represented, and several youth representatives were also present, underlining Japan's commitment to resourcing the next generation of leaders in this Industry.