To improve the effectiveness of environmental policy and governance, recent theoretical and empirical research increasingly suggests the adoption of multi‐level and more participatory policy‐making processes over traditionally centralized policy‐making processes. This article takes the Fukushima nuclear crisis of 2011 as a prime example in an attempt to assess the changing dynamics of the nuclear energy policy‐making process in Japan. To explore the changing dynamics, the paper focuses on the roles of the judicial branch and local governments in the nuclear energy policy‐making process. Nuclear energy policy in Japan has evolved along with industrial policies for economic growth. Before the Fukushima crisis, neither the judicial branch nor local governments were regarded as influential actors in nuclear energy policy‐making. The judicial branch basically supported government policy in litigation brought by civic groups. Local governments in rural areas tried to attract nuclear power plant construction because of promised subsidies from the national government and a solid tax base from construction and jobs. However, after the Fukushima crisis, both judicial branches and local governments became more influential in the nuclear energy policy‐making process. Local and high courts now actively issue injunctions against the reoperation of nuclear power plants. In gubernatorial or mayoral elections of local governments where nuclear power plants are located, candidates are politically pressured to express their stance on nuclear power plants more explicitly than in the past. Anti‐nuclear civic groups are also gradually changing the focus of their lobbying efforts to local elections.

中文翻译：

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日本核能政策制定过程的动态变化

为了提高环境政策和治理的有效性，最近的理论和实证研究越来越多地建议采用多层次，更具参与性的政策制定程序，而不是传统上集中的政策制定程序。本文以2011年福岛核危机为例，试图评估日本核能政策制定过程的变化动态。为了探索变化的动力，本文着重于司法部门和地方政府在核能政策制定过程中的作用。日本的核能政策已经随着经济增长的产业政策一起发展。在福岛危机之前，司法部门和地方政府都没有被认为是核能政策制定的有影响力的参与者。司法部门从根本上支持公民团体提起的政府政策。农村地区的地方政府试图吸引核电站的建设，原因是国家政府承诺提供补贴，并且建设和就业产生了坚实的税收基础。但是，在福岛危机之后，司法部门和地方政府在核能政策制定过程中都具有更大的影响力。现在，地方法院和高等法院正在积极发布禁止核电厂重新运行的禁令。在核电厂所在地的地方政府的州长或市长选举中，与以往相比，候选人在政治上受到压力，要求其对核电厂的立场更加明确。