An institutional analysis of the Japanese energy transition

Abstract

While most studies of Japan’s energy sector have focused analysis on why Japan’s energy sector has managed to resist change, the aim of this study is to show how Japan’s energy institutions have been and continue to evolve, especially in the post-Fukushima period. Rather than adhering to single model of institutional analysis, the approach in this study is broader and more systematic, integrating various economic, political and sociological perspectives on institutions in order to gain insights into Japan’s energy transition. In so doing, this study provides new evidence on the impact of policy reforms on energy sector structure and performance and demonstrates that significant structural and institutional changes are underway in Japan's energy transition.